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School Hours: 9:15 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday
School building opens for students at 9:00 AM
Office: 703-988-8900
Attendance: 703-988-8989
September 24, 2025
IN THIS ISSUE
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K-12 School Start Times Survey
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New Volunteer Management System – Volunteer FCPS
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Advanced Academic Program Fall Newsletter and Family Coffee
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Office Policy Reminders
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Positivity Project
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SEL Screener: Grades 3-6
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Hispanic Heritage Month
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Attendance Matters
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Yearbook Photos
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PTA Board for 25-26 School Year
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Support the VRES PTA!
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PTA Reminders
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PTA Fundraisers - Order your Spirit Wear
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PTA Red Robin Fundraiser - 9/25
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PTA Enrichment Clubs
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PTA Save the Dates!
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Recognize Our VRES Staff Who Go Above and Beyond
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Important Upcoming Dates
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Frequently Visited Links and Important Virginia Run Contacts
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Monthly Lunch Menu
1. 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/caregivers, students, and community members may provide input on the two options by taking the survey. Visit the FCPS website for more information on adjusting school start times.
2. New Volunteer Management System – Volunteer FCPS
- Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS
At Virginia Run Elementary School, 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.
For full details, visit the Volunteer FCPS website or contact our Volunteer Point of Contact, Shannon Soria, srsoria@fcps.edu, with questions.
3. Advanced Academic Program Fall Newsletter and Family Coffee
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in grades K-8. Learning experiences are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extension of the Program of Studies (POS).
Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AART) work together to provide all levels of service.
Please click on this link to view the AAP Fall Newsletter (Spanish translation).
A parent coffee will be held in the library on Tuesday September 30th from 9:30 until 10:30 AM. Brittany Wade, AART, will provide an overview about the continuum of Advanced Academic services and also briefly review the screening process for Advanced Academic services. Please note a separate parent information meeting will be held in late October specifically for the screening process for full time services for parents of students in grades 2 through 6.
Please RSVP to the parent coffee by signing up at this link.
If your child is new to Fairfax County in grades 3-6 and you want your child screened for full time advanced services, the fall deadline is October 15th, 2025.
Please contact Brittany Wade at bwade@fcps.edu.
4. Office Policy Reminders
Dear Virginia Run Families,
We hope you're having a wonderful week. We're writing to you today with a friendly and heartfelt reminder about the amazing people who make our school run so smoothly: our Virginia Run front office staff.
Our front office team is the heart of our school. They are the first to greet you with a smile, the first to answer your calls, and the first to help with a hundred different things every single day. They work incredibly hard to keep our students safe and our school community connected. We simply couldn't do it without their dedication, and we ask that you treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve. Every policy they enforce, from ID checks to visitor sign-ins, is a part of our commitment to ensuring our school is a safe place for every child. These aren't personal requests—they are school-wide protocols required by the VRES administration and FCPS.
To help you put a face to the names, we want to reintroduce you to our dedicated team.
- Sheri Weber and Veronica Treadwell– Front Office Assistants
- Shannon Soria- AA (Administrative Assistant/Finance Manager)
- Betty Bancroft- SIA (Student Information Assistant/Registrar)
- Carolina Chavez- Family Liaison
To help everyone have a smooth and safe experience at school, please remember these important VRES procedures:
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Visitor Check-In: All visitors must check in at the front office using our visitor management system and wear a visitor badge while in the building. Your ID is required every time you check into the system.
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Morning/First Bell: Our doors open with the first bell at 9:00 AM. Students are required to be in their classrooms before the late bell at 9:15 AM. If you arrive after 9:15, please come in and sign your child in late.
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Early Dismissals: Please email the teacher and call the office if you will be picking your child up early. Letting the teacher know in advance will help with making sure your child is ready for dismissal. Please pick up your child no later than 3:40 PM to avoid conflicts with our busy end-of-day dismissal.
Thank you for being such a supportive and understanding part of our school community. By working together, we can ensure our school remains a safe and welcoming place for all.
5. Positivity Project at Virginia Run
Character Strength: Perspective
This week, our school is focusing on the character strength Perspective. This means understanding and appreciating different points of view. Perspective, often seen as wisdom, goes beyond intelligence. People with this strength are valued for their advice because they see the big picture and understand complex issues. This helps them stay calm and learn from mistakes. By reflecting on their own feelings and thoughts, they can empathize with others and offer strong listening and questioning skills. They help their groups navigate challenges and find opportunities for success.
To practice and encourage the character strength of perspective 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.
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Mr. Gerstner and Ms. Chavez visited students and parents at bus stops the last couple of weeks.
6. SEL Screener: Grades 3-6
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) believes in supporting social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students. In FCPS, students use a tool called the SEL Screener to think about their own SEL skills and experiences at school. Virginia Run ES students in grades 3rd-6th grades will be participating in the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener in the Fall and Spring.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information about the SEL Screener, including information on opting out, please see the attached Parent Notification. You can also learn more on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Parents and guardians who prefer that their child not take part in the SEL Screener can either complete the opt-out in the Parent Digital Consent application or fill out the form at the bottom of the testing notification letter to your child's school.
If you are interested in having your child’s screener data deleted from a previous SEL screener administration, please contact your student’s school.
SEL Screener opt out-English
SEL Screener opt out -Spanish
7. Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15th to October 15th. It was originally established in 1968 as a week-long celebration by California Congressman George E. Brown. In 1988, President George H.W. Bush expanded the celebration to a full month. This time frame is used to celebrate the cultures and contributions of Hispanics and all Latin Americans. Several Latin American countries celebrate their independence during this time. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all celebrate their Independence Day on September 15th. Mexico’s Independence Day is September 16th, and Chile’s Independence Day on September 18th. During this time students of all grade levels learned about different Hispanic and Latin American musicians in music class. This week students learned about Rita Moreno singer, actress and dancer from Puerto Rico. Last week students learned about Teresa Carreño a pianist, composer, and opera singer from Venezuela. We encourage you to talk to your children about who and what they learned during this year’s Hispanic Heritage month and reflect on the impact that Hispanic and Latin American cultures have had on America and American culture.
8. Attendance Matters
Every Day Counts: Setting Your Child Up for Success
September is Attendance Awareness Month. There are many ways parents and caregivers can help their children create healthy routines and make a habit of getting to school on time every day. Some examples include:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine. (Need help? Download this checklist in English or Spanish.)
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- 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.
- Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- When possible, avoid medical appointments or extended trips when school is in session.
Visit the FCPS website for more attendance tips and resources. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
9. Yearbook Photos
Dear families, Mrs. Adkins and Mrs. Tuben would love to gather some photos of school events from throughout the year for consideration for this year’s yearbook. Please email any great school moments you capture to mktuben@fcps.edu with the subject line “VRES Yearbook photos” and stay tuned for a direct upload link later in the year.
10. PTA Board for 25-26 School Year
President - Matthew Reklau - virginiarunpta@gmail.com
Secretary - Laura McAndrews - secretary@vrespta.onmicrosoft.com
Treasurer - Kyle Jewett - treasurer.virginiarunpta@gmail.com
VP Education - Kimberly Wilson - vresvpeducation@gmail.com
VP Fundraising - Amanda Prindle - vresvpfundraising@yahoo.com
VP Social - Skylar Ha - vresvpsocial@gmail.com
11. Support the VRES PTA!
What does the PTA do?
- Provide support for teachers & families.
- Plan events to promote community including Fall Fest, Trunk or Treat, Paint Night, Bingo Night, Spirit Nights, Viking Dash and much more!
- Provide funding for field trips.
- Promote before & after school clubs.
- Provide teacher stipends and faculty appreciation.
How can you help?
- Purchase a PTA membership!
- Donate funds or be a business sponsor!
- Volunteer!
Other easy ways to help support the VRES PTA!
- Follow us on Facebook
- Earn Box Tops
- Harris Teeter VIC Card
- Export the PTA Calendar
Support the VRES PTA Flyer
12. PTA Reminders
Get ready, everyone! Our school's Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat event is happening on Friday, October 17th, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. It's a free event for all our families!
What's Happening? 🎃
The fun starts with
Trunk or Treat from 5:30 to 6:30 PM in the Kiss & Ride loop, where kids can collect candy (don't worry, there will be allergy-friendly options too!).
Right after, the
Fall Fest Fun kicks off from 5:30 to 8:00 PM inside the school. You can expect:
- Games in the lobby 🎮
- A Glow Party with a DJ in the gym, which includes a costume contest at 7:00 PM 🎶
- Crafts and food like pizza and Chick-fil-A in the cafeteria 🍕
How Can You Help? 🙏
We'd love your support to make this event a huge success! Starting next week, you can:
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Volunteer to help with games, setup, or cleanup.
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Donate one bag of candy per family. You can drop it in the box in the lobby 🍬.
- Look for an Amazon Wish List for Fall Fest supplies, which will be shared next week.
Trunk or Treat Coordinator - Heather Reklau (Hynoteworthy@yahoo.com)
A Few More Things to Remember... 📝
The deadline for the Student Newsletter Art Challenge & Viking Quiz entries is Wednesday, September 24th. You can submit them in the school office or email them to skylar7981@gmail.com.
PTA Reminders Flyer
13. PTA Fundraisers
Show your Viking pride while supporting the Virginia Run PTA! A portion of every spirit wear purchase goes directly to the PTA. Enjoy free school pick-up on all orders placed now through September 5! After the deadline, all items will ship straight to your doorstep.
www.campussurvivalkits.com/virginiarun
https://virginiarun.deco-apparel.com/
14. Red Robin Fundraiser - 9/25
Hey parents and families! 👋
Get ready for a delicious way to support our school! The Virginia Run Elementary PTA is teaming up with Red Robin for a special fundraiser on Thursday, September 25th. 🍔🍟
Here's how it works:
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Red Robin will donate 20% of food sales back to our PTA.
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Just go to the Red Robin at 14450 Chantilly Crossing Lane in Chantilly, VA, on September 25th anytime between 11:00 - 9:00 PM.
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Make sure to tell your server you're there for the fundraiser so we get credit!
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If you're ordering online, you can do that too. Just go to redrobin.com/order, find our location, and be sure to add the "Fundraisers (To-Go Only)" item to your bag before you check out. 💻
Let's make this fundraiser a huge success for our school! Hope to see you there! 🦉🎉
Red Robin Fundraiser Flyer September 2025
15. PTA Enrichment Clubs
The PTA has lined up fun enrichment clubs! Clubs start in a few weeks - so register today and don’t delay👍🏼
We've got: Soccer, Digital Arts, Cooking, Acting, LEGO Club, Music, Minecraft Programming and more!
Click the link to learn more and register!
https://tinyurl.com/VRESFallClubs2025
For club questions or financial aid, please contact Kimberly Wilson at vresvpeducation@gmail.com.
16. PTA Save the Dates!
Trunk or Treat and Fall Fest - Friday, October 17
Cub Run vs. VRES Volleyball Game - Friday, March 6
17. Recognize Our VRES Staff Who Go Above and Beyond
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, 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, specifically at Virginia Run!
submit your story
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18. Important Upcoming Dates
9/25: Red Robin Day, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
10/2: Yom Kippur - Student Holiday
10/7: PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM
10/13: Staff Development Day - Student Holiday
10/14 - 10/17: Book Fair, Library, 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM
10/15: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
10/17: Trunk or Treat and Fall Fest, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
10/17: Book Fair Family Night, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
10/20: Diwali - Student Holiday
10/31: End of Quarter / 2-Hour Student Early Release
11/3 - 11/4: Teacher Workdays - Student Holiday
11/11: Veterans Day - Student Holiday
11/14: Bingo Night, 6:30 - 8:00 PM, Concessions - 6:00 PM, Cafeteria
11/19: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
11/26 - 11/28: Thanksgiving Break - Student Holidays
12/17: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
12/22 - 1/2: Winter Break - Student Holidays
2/25: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
3/6: Cub Run vs. VRES Volleyball Game, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Westfield High School
3/25: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
4/29: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
5/20: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
SOL Schedule
3/18: Gr. 5 IRW
5/6: Gr. 3-4 Reading
5/7: Gr. 5-6 Reading
5/13: Gr. 3-4 Math
5/14: Gr. 5-6 Math
5/21: Gr. 5 Science
5/28-6/3: Retakes
*Makeups will be held when students return from their absence.
19. Frequently Visited Links and Important Virginia Run Contacts
20. Monthly Lunch Menu
Please use this link to view the Virginia Run ES Lunch Menu.
 
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