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 Students and staff having a blast representing their favorite characters for Storybook Character Day!
Upcoming Dates
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 12: PTA Meeting 7:00pm; Library and Virtual
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
December 5: Picture Retake Day
December 8-12: Book Fair
December 8: Cultural/Religious Observance: Bodhi Day
December 12: PTA Family Game Night
December 17: Early Release Wednesday - Dismissal at 12:25pm
December 22-January 2: Winter Break
2025-26 school year calendar
Cubbie News
Dear Cub Run Families and Friends,
As we kick off the second quarter of the school year, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for your incredible partnership and support during the first quarter. Thank you to all the families who attended our first quarter conferences. These meetings are essential, and your commitment to discussing your student's progress is invaluable. We look forward to our continued partnership with you throughout the remainder of the year to ensure every student thrives.
The strength of the Cub Run community truly shines through in your support of our fundraising efforts.
- Thank you for not only supporting our Cub Run-a-thon but also for showing up and participating in the recent Asha-Jyothi race!
- Because of your efforts and participation in the Asha-Jyothi event, we raised an amazing $1,731 to directly support our school and our ongoing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) needs. Your commitment to enhancing these programs makes a real difference!
Finally, thank you for the overwhelming response and support for our Outstanding Employee Awards nominations. We have an exceptional group of staff members who dedicate themselves daily to supporting our students and community. Thank you for taking the time to nominate them for recognition; it means the world to our team to have their extraordinary efforts acknowledged!
We are excited for our Cubbie Den meetings to kick off the second quarter this week!
Warm regards,
Melissa Miller, Principal
Nausheen Haider, Asst. Principal
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!
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November 3-7: National School Psychology Week
This week we celebrate the contributions of school psychologists and the important role they play in schools and communities helping 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.
This year's theme, “Finding Your Path” recognizes the ways that school psychologists take an active role in helping everyone in their communities determine paths to learning, growth, and overall well-being that meet their unique needs. Thank you, Ms. Turner, for all you do to support our Cubbies and school community!
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To Honor Our Veterans - November 10
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.
On Monday, November 10, we would like to invite all Veterans and community members to join us for our Veterans Day assembly featuring musical performances by our Cub Run chorus and 2nd grade students. The performances will be from 9:15 - 10:00 for students in gr. 4-6 and 2:15 - 3:00 for students in preK-3.
We also invite each grade level to wear red, white or blue to honor our veterans. Please see below for each grade level colors:
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Grade Level
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Color
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Preschool, Gr3 & Gr6
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Red
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Kinder & Gr4
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White
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Gr1 & Gr5
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Blue
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Gr2 (Performers)
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Coch: Red
Hoey: Red
S.Lee: Blue
Taylor: Blue
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*Our chorus performers are wearing white.
Calendar Reminder (Correction)
Please note the updated correct date: Tuesday, November 11, is a school holiday for Veterans Day. All schools and offices are closed.
Principals Walking Club
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Please join Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Haider and Cub Run staff for our Principals Walking Club on Friday, November 14 at 8:05 a.m. Students are invited to meet on the field or in the gym (weather permitting). Come join us! |
Cubbie Artists, Help Design the Get2Green Logo! - Due 11/7/2025
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).
Early Release Wednesday - November 19
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Cub Run’s next early release Wednesday is on November 19. To confirm or change how your child is being dismissed on November 19, 2025, please utilize this GOOGLE FORM by Friday, November 14. |
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 the lunch schedule below.
National Family Engagement Month
November is National Family Engagement Month, and we are grateful for our FCPS families! This month reminds us that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Over 35 years of research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in their children's education. The importance of family engagement will be highlighted during November as we celebrate and strengthen family-school partnerships.
Discuss the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate skills with your child.
AAP Full-Time Screening Information (Grades 2-6)
Full-Time AAP Services Eligibility decisions for AAP Full-Time services are made by a countywide central screening committee.
There are specific screening cycles for Full-Time services:
Spring Screening: Available to any FCPS student in Grades 2-7. The referral window is from the first day of school to December 15. All forms are due to the
AART – Naomi Egerton Baker – nhegertonbak@fcps.edu by December 15th, 2025.
Important: Please do not wait for ability test scores before submitting a referral for your child in Grades 2-7. Referrals submitted after the deadlines will not be accepted. Referral forms for all Advanced Academic Program services are found at https://www.fcps.edu/node/38893.
STEAM Happenings
Students have been hard at work designing and building in STEAM! All of our projects follow the Engineering Design Process:
Ask: What is our driving question, problem or challenge? What do we need to know in order to be successful?
Imagine: Imagine possible solutions.
Plan: Share your ideas with a partner and come up with a plan together.
Create: Build or create your design.
Test: See if it works.
Improve: How can you make it better?
Kindergarteners designed and created structures that provide shade on the playground. They explored with the 5 senses. They designed and built a gate with Keva Planks that can hold five little pumpkins. Next up, they will be designing and creating a Leaf Man (or animal) based on the book Leaf Man by Lois Elhert.
Second Graders designed and created habitats for butterflies. They explored living versus nonliving things. They designed and built a gate with Keva Planks that can hold five little pumpkins. Next up, they will be designing and creating a Leaf Man (or animal) based on the book Leaf Man by Lois Elhert.
Third Graders designed and created a ladybug trap that can safely relocate ladybugs from indoors to outdoors. They are currently designing an expanded community garden that would grow crops like corn, beans and squash that would provide local food for our school cafeteria. They will be designing a miniature float for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Fourth Graders designed and created a model of a bridge made of index cards that could allow people to safely cross a stream or creek. They are currently designing an expanded community garden that would grow crops like corn, beans and squash that would provide local food for our school cafeteria. They will be designing a miniature float for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Fifth Graders built towers with Keva planks and designed pixel pictures. They are currently working on designing and building a model of an obstacle for American Ninja Warrior.
Sixth Graders designed pixel pictures. They designed and built a model of an obstacle for American Ninja Warrior. They are currently working on designing a passive solar house. Sixth graders are also participating in the Global Classroom Project, partnering with a class in Taiwan. Here is more information from FCPS on the Global Classroom Project.
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!
Questions about STEAM?
Email Ms. Mishkin at mlmishkin@fcps.edu
Positivity Project
This week, our school is focusing on the Other People Mindset of Knowing That My Words and Actions Affect Others, which means having an awareness that everything that we say and do can affect others — and our relationships with them.
Whether we speak, email, text, or post, our words and actions can have a positive or negative effect. The words and actions we choose can lift others up or bring them down, and they also impact us. When we all think carefully about our words and actions and show respect and care for those around us, we create a happier and healthier community.
To practice and encourage this Other People Mindset 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 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
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- The FCPS Mobile App
- Understanding the Annual Youth Survey
- Resources for Families
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.
Native American Heritage Month
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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. |
Family Academy
The FCPS Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in November:
- ABA Family Training: Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
- Supporting Your Military-Connected Student in Secondary School
- Moving on to Life in the Community
Other Family Resource Center webinars will cover topics such as communication with twice exceptional children, family engagement in the special education process, restorative justice practices in schools and at home, and improving routines.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to learn more about these and other resources.
Reminders
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.
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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