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  What a day! Our Cub Run-A-Thon brought together our amazing students, staff, and families for fun, fitness, and a little friendly silly-string fun!
Upcoming Dates
October 31: Storybook Character Day & End of 1st Quarter - 2-hour Early Release
October 31: Cub Run-a-thon Donations Due
October 31: Deadline to submit a nomination for our Outstanding Employee Awards
November 2: Daylight Saving Time Ends
November 3 & 4: Teacher Workdays- No School for Students
November 6: Den Meetings for Den of Adventure and Den of Wonder
November 7: Den Meetings for Den of Discovery and Den of Exploration
November 10: Veterans Day Concerts - 9:00am & 2:15pm
November 11: Veterans Day - No School
November 14: Principals Walking Club-8:05am-Gym
November 18: Family Life Education Preview Night
November 19: Early Release Wednesday - Dismissal at 12:25pm
November 21: Thanksgiving Lunch
November 26-28: No School - Thanksgiving Break
2025-26 school year calendar
Cubbie News
Dear Cub Run Families and Friends,
As we conclude our first quarter, we want to extend our deepest appreciation for your partnership, support, and dedication. Our students—our amazing Cubbies—have settled into their routines, shown excellent growth, and fully embodied the spirit of our school community. This successful start would not be possible without the incredible support we receive from each of you at home.
Thanks to your tremendous generosity and enthusiastic participation, we have not only met our goal of $30,000, but we have exceeded it! The funds raised will directly support our two new water-filling stations along with many other programs and resources to support our school community. Please see our PTA News section below for additional information. Your support makes a significant difference in the educational experience of every student.
Please mark your calendars for two important events this Friday:
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Early Release: This Friday is an early release day for the end of our first quarter. Students will be dismissed at 1:25 PM. Please ensure your child’s after-school plans are in place for this adjusted schedule.
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Storybook Character Day: We are so excited to see the creativity! Don't forget that Friday is also our Storybook Character Day. We look forward to seeing all of our Cubbies come to school dressed as their favorite characters and celebrating the magic of reading.
Thank you again for a truly outstanding first quarter. We are energized and ready to dive into a productive and engaging second quarter!
Warm regards,
Melissa Miller, Principal
Nausheen Haider, Assistant Principal
Calendar Reminders
Thursday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two hour early release for students. Students are dismissed at 1:25pm.
This Sunday, November 2, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
Monday, November 3 and Tuesday, November 4 are teacher workdays, no school for students.
Monday, November 11, is a school holiday for Veterans Day. All schools and offices are closed.
Arrival & Dismissal Safety Reminders
Sully Station Drive & Bus Loop
We are seeing an increase again in unsafe actions on Sully Station Drive and our bus loop during our arrival and dismissal procedures. If you are dropping your student(s) off in the morning or picking up at dismissal, please utilize our Kiss and Ride/Car Rider line to safely drop off or pick up students. If you are parking and walking, please park near our crosswalk and utilize the crosswalk that is supported by our amazing crossing guard and use our sidewalks to walk to door 4.
Unfortunately, we are seeing students walk/run across Sully Station Drive where there is no crosswalk and we are concerned about our students and families. There is also a safety concern when parking along Sully Station Drive and walking through our bus loop. Please utilize sidewalks because our buses are arriving or departing with our students.
Kiss and Ride Loop (Car Riders)
If you are accessing our kiss and ride loop to drop off or pick up students, please remain in your vehicles and ensure you are dropping off students where we have staff and patrols. If you arrive after 8:40am, you will need to park and walk our students to the main office to check-in. At 8:40am, our staff need to report to their positions to support students in the building.
If you are walking students to door 4, we request that you do not park in the lot and then walk across the parking lot. Cars are making their way around the loop and we want to ensure that our Cubbies do not walk out in front of a car.
Thank you for your partnership in utilizing our procedures to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal for our school community.
Last Call: Nominations for 2025-2026 FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards!
To submit a nomination for a Cub Run Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link. You may nominate one employee or multiple. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a short paragraph about how the employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. Thank you for helping us recognize the exceptional staff we have at Cub Run!
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has up to 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 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, MTSS Coordinator, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor. Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school, Special Education Department Chairs, and Reading Specialists.
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, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, Parent Liaison
Please Note: The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, October 31.
If you have any questions, please contact Jenny Sisk at jeschoensisk@fcps.edu.
Storybook Character Day - October 31
On October 31 students are encouraged to dress like a favorite storybook character.
Don't have a favorite storybook character? Wear your Halloween costume OR your Cub Run spirit wear and colors!
*Please remember all costumes should be school appropriate. Inflatable costumes, masks, face paint, and toy weapons will not be permitted.
Lost and Found
Our Lost & Found has been relocated to the Cafeteria this year so students can walk by and locate their belongings easier. Parents are welcome to come look after school (3:35-4:15p.m). Unclaimed items will be donated to a local shelter on November 3.
Calling Cubbie Artists for a Get2Green Logo Design
STEAM Supplies Needed
Please send in your recycling for STEAM projects!
We need: paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, tissue boxes, egg cartons, and other lightweight cardboard.
Thank you for helping our students bring their ideas to life in STEAM!
November Den Meetings
Each of our Cubbie Dens will be coming together on November 6 or November 7. Our Den families will be getting to know each other while also reinforcing our school-wide expectations, by doing fun activities together. We are encouraging each of our dens to wear their den color on their meeting day!
To Honor Our Veterans - November 10
Veterans Day provides a great reason to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made on our behalf, and we thank them for their service. Learn more about the history of Veterans Day at va.gov.
We are looking forward to honoring our Cub Run veterans during our Veterans Day concerts on November 10 and showcasing them on our main office windows. Please submit pictures of our Cub Run veterans (parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, siblings, grandparents, etc.) at the link below.
Submit pictures
Cub Run Food Drive
Family Life Education & Parent Preview Night
Students in grade K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction. Students in Kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit. For more information about FCPS' Family Life Education program, please see the detailed descriptions here. In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in Schoology. To find those lessons, log into your Schoology account with your SIS login.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the opt out forms online here. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons in ParentVue, you do not need to complete another form.
A virtual parent preview night will be held on Tuesday, November 18 from 6:30 - 7:30 (link will be sent out via an e-Notify email).
Save the Date for Our Thanksgiving Lunch
We are looking forward to hosting our families for our annual Thanksgiving Lunch on Friday, November 21! Please see below for the schedule
Positivity Project
This week, our school is focusing on the character strength of Creativity. Creativity means coming up with new and original ways to think about and do things.
Creative people see the world differently. They are open to new experiences and think independently. They come up with many ideas and pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity takes courage because sharing original ideas can sometimes lead to criticism.
Creativity is vital to our world! Creative solutions can help resolve conflicts and find compromises that satisfy everyone involved, strengthening relationships. It helps us solve tough problems, create new things, and see the world in fresh ways. Examples include treatments for deadly illnesses, such as cancer, the invention of the cell phone, and the development of solar panels. Imagine life without Impressionist paintings or the creation of airplanes and rocket ships.
To encourage creativity with your child at home, 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 support!
Family Winter Assistance
As the winter season approaches, we’d like to share some important reminders and community resource information regarding holiday assistance.
Families who may need assistance are encouraged to apply directly through the local charities and organizations listed below. These groups provide a range of supports during the holiday season, but also year-round!
Our school typically receives a limited number of postcards or tickets for November and December food baskets from Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM). Families who are not already certified WFCM clients who would like one of these postcards may reach out to Kristen Buesing (School Counselor – kabuesing@fcps.edu or 703-633-7562) directly to have one sent home as supplies last.
However, we strongly recommend contacting Western Fairfax Christian Ministries directly to become a certified client. Once certified, you will no longer need a postcard from us to access their assistance programs.
Coordinated Services Planning (CSP)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/coordinated-services-planning
703-222-0880
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
https://www.wfcmva.org/
703-988-9656
Northern Virginia Food Rescue
https://nova-fr.org/
703-822-5205
Food for Others
https://foodforothers.org/
703-207-9173
PTA News
Cub Run-a-thon
We hope your Cubby had a blast at the Cub Run-a-Thon last week! We saw lots of smiles as they ran through the course, hugged Cubby Bear, danced, and saw the principals get sprayed with silly string! A huge shout-out to Ms. Brown and Ms. Capri for being our announcers and DJs! You helped everyone get energized and excited! Thank you to Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Haider for being willing to get silly-stringed all day long! Thank you to Ms. Kalbaugh, Ms. Davis-Luczak, Ms. Sexena, and Mr. Jorge for all of your help and support!
We exceeded our goal of $30,000 and will be able to install two new water-filling-stations and do so many more awesome things to support our students and teachers! We will share more details about celebrations after our fundraiser officially ends on October 31!
We have 2 more classes who met their goals and have earned a popsicle party!
- Ms. Power’s preschool class
- Ms. Wang’s kindergarten class
Thank you for your support!
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- ⏰ School Start Times Update
- 🎖️ 75% of FCPS Schools Recognized for Supporting Military Families
- Return Your Impact Aid Survey
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Students are Learning Everyday!
As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan any time away during long breaks from school.
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of third grade.
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.
Community Resources for Families in Need
If your family is affected by the shutdown or you know someone looking for help, the Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides centralized information for community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies. CSP can provide information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources.
Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
How to Access Food or Donate to Those in Need
Use the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to find where to access food or donate to your local food bank.
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November 1 and 2 - All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos
This week we recognize those in our community observing All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos. For Catholics, All Saints Day (November 1) celebrates all those who are with God in Heaven, known and unknown. All Souls Day (November 2), known in Mexico and Latin America as Día de los Muertos, is a day of remembrance and prayer for all those who have died, especially for the souls who may be in purgatory. These special days are celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants throughout the world. #OurFCPS
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November 3-7: National School Psychology Week
This week we celebrate the important work school psychologists do to help all students thrive. We are incredibly thankful to have the support of Mrs. Vy Turner at Cub Run! Learn more from the National Association of School Psychologists.
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Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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National Family Engagement Month
This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Strong family support is vital to student well-being and success.
FCPS has many resources designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.
Additionally, every school has a family liaison who will welcome and orient families, and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.
If you have questions or would like more information, ask your school office to connect you with your family liaison or visit FCPS’ website for a list of region representatives.
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October Community Boundary Review Meetings
FCPS’ October community boundary review meetings will begin on Monday, October 13. Each of the 12 meetings will focus on two pyramids. Our pyramid will be covered at the meeting on Thursday, October 30, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Chantilly High School, (Westfield and Chantilly Pyramids) in person or virtual. Register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” based on how you would like to participate.
At the meeting, the consultant will present the latest draft boundary map (Scenario 4) and potential changes specific to the Westfield and Chantilly High School Pyramids. Participants will also be invited to ask questions.
If you are unable to attend the meeting for our pyramid, you are welcome to attend any meeting that is convenient. View the full list of October boundary meetings.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
Reminders
Elementary Language Arts Grades
You might notice that your student's progress report grades in English language arts (ELA) look a little different. Progress report grades in English language arts (ELA) have changed to reflect the 2024-25 curriculum, assessments, and Standards of Learning.
FCPS is raising the bar and setting high goals! We are teaching and grading students on the skills they need by the very end of the school year. Think of it as a growth chart and each quarter students are measured in progress toward end of year expectations. In light of this, first quarter grades are often lower than the other quarters as students work to reach grade-level mastery.
Please know that this is a positive, expected part of the learning journey. We are here to support every student as they grow and achieve. We are celebrating the effort and growth toward these new, higher standards! Learn more about this change in ELA grading and reporting.
Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS
Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer at Cub Run!
FCPS has launched a new system to help ensure student safety.
- If you plan to volunteer more than twice this school year or chaperone a field trip (even just once), you must register in Volunteer FCPS.
- The process involves multiple steps and cannot be completed last minute, so we encourage you to start early.
Volunteer Levels
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Level 1: Infrequent volunteers (monthly or less frequent) who are always supervised do not need a criminal background check. However, they do need a sex offender registry check, which is performed by signing in at the school's visitor kiosk.
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Level 2: Frequent, ongoing, or regular volunteers (daily, weekly, bi-weekly) who are also always supervised are subject to the same requirements as Level 1—no criminal background check, but a sex offender registry check via the kiosk is mandatory.
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Level 3: Volunteers with direct, unsupervised interaction with students must complete a criminal background check, including fingerprinting and child abuse and neglect checks. This applies to roles like mentors, tutors, or field trip chaperones who are alone with students (not accompanied by an FCPS staff member) at any time during the activity.
How to Register as a Volunteer
- Review FCPS Volunteer Guidelines – All volunteers must read the FCPS Volunteer Protocols before getting started.
- Register in the FCPS Volunteer Portal
- Search for Cub Run Elementary
For full details, visit the Volunteer FCPS website
Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer at Cub Run!
Contacts
Cub Run Main Office: 703-633-7500
Cub Run Attendance Phone Line: 703-633-7575
Cub Run Attendance mailbox: CubRunElem.Attendance@fcps.edu
Technology Support for Families/Parent Help Desk: 1-833-921-3277
Parent Information Phone Lines/Support for parents who do not speak English as their first language: Parent Information Phone Lines
Parent and Student technology support: IT Support Portal
FCPS Free and Reduced Meals Information & Application: Information
Melissa Miller, Principal, mhmiller@fcps.edu
Nausheen Haider, Assistant Principal, nfhaider@fcps.edu
Brittney Kalbaugh, Administrative Assistant, bmkalbaugh@fcps.edu
Namrata Saxena, Student Information Assistant, nsaxena@fcps.edu
Christina Davis-Luczak, Office Assistant, cddavislucza@fcps.edu
Michelle Shea, Office Assistant, mrshea@fcps.edu
Helen Seo, Family Liaison, hseo@fcps.edu
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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