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A Note from the Principal
Dear Daniels Run Families,
As we approach the winter break, I wanted to reach out and wish every one of your families a season filled with happiness and joy, whatever holidays you may celebrate.
There is a tangible sense of excitement in the air this month, and it has been wonderful to see our community come together. While I was looking forward to participating in all of our December festivities, I have unfortunately come down with the flu that has been circulating. I’ve had to take a few days away to rest and recover, but I am with you all in spirit!
Please stay healthy and take care of one another. I wish you all the very best for a restful break and a wonderful start to the new year.
Warmly,
Susan Mullen, Principal
Upcoming Dates
December 22-January 2: Winter Break- School Closed
January 19: MLK Day Holiday- No School
January 28: End of Quarter- 2 Hour Early Release (dismissal at 1:45pm)
January 29-30: Teacher Workdays- No School
February 3: PTA Meeting at 7pm in the library
Winter Break (Student Holiday)
As a reminder, winter break will be held Monday, December 22, to Friday, January 2. To help make sure you and your children have a restful break, we have asked that no homework be assigned during this time. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills, but no assignments will be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year.
Classes resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. See the complete school year calendar.
PTA News
 Mark your calendars for our upcoming PTA events in 2026!
- February 3rd- PTA Meeting at 7pm
- February 27th- PTA Bingo Night
- March 7th- PTA Ice Skating Night
Learn More about Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5)
FCPS participates in Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5). VQB5 is Virginia’s system for measuring and supporting quality in early childhood programs so children enter kindergarten ready to learn. VQB5 builds on health and safety standards by measuring the quality of teacher-child interactions and the use of curriculum. Refer to “VQB5 for Families English/Spanish” for more information.
Music News
🎵 UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS
🎵 Congratulations to:
- the Chorus & Singers for the Winter Chorus Concerts last week & their performance at the Sunrise Senior Assisted Living Home on Monday!
- 6th graders: Benji, Cooper, Caleb, Anna, Mekail, Andrew O.T., & Connor B. They participated in the KJMS Band Play/Pizza/Perform Event on Dec 4!
- Junpei (6th) & Raghav (5th) who participated in the Fairfax Pyramid Area Orchestra Concert! They performed with many other students from the Fairfax Pyramid elementary schools!
🎵 Auditions for the “This is Us”(International Night/Day) concerts. All staff, students & parents are invited to audition! Sign up here to audition!
The performances are Thursday night, March 12 & Friday during school, March 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. Contact me with any questions.
🎵 The December Musician of the Month are the Piano Guys. They are an ensemble of 4 musicians who formed in 2011. They play pop and classical music.
 Our Daniels Run Chorus and Daniels Run Singers sang beautifully at the Winter Chorus Concerts on Thursday, December 11th.
 Our Daniels Run Chorus and Daniels Run Singers brought holiday cheer this week to the residents of the Sunrise Senior Assisted Living Home.
Trex Challenge Update
Thank you to everyone who is sending in plastic for the Trex Challenge. Our goal is to keep 1,000 pounds of plastic out of the landfills by properly recycling these materials. The Green Team is collecting far more than just plastic shopping bags. So far, Daniels Run has collected 304 pounds. We need 696 more pounds by the end of April! .
Save the Date for Curriculum Night
Curriculum Night – Wednesday, January 14 (snow date Wed Jan 21)
Save the Date for the Rising 7th grade Curriculum Night! The event will be at KJMS from 6p – 8p and is for current 6th graders ONLY and their Parents and Guardians. More information will be shared soon!
ML Family and School Partnerships
Multilingual Family Podcast
The FCPS Multilingual Family Podcast, In A Few Words FCPS, provides families with timely, accessible information about school updates, resources, and ways to support student learning. Its purpose is to strengthen communication and engagement with multilingual families across FCPS, and it is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Korean to ensure broad access. Please help us share this valuable resource with your school communities. The upcoming December episode will focus on Winter Break and offer tips for families on keeping students engaged at home—be on the lookout for this important episode!
Reid Reflects: State Standards and the FCPS Budget Story
In her latest Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid thanked every member of our community for supporting FCPS as it remains fully accredited. Referencing a news release on accreditation, Dr. Reid noted how FCPS needs funding to support and maintain this excellence.
As we shared last week, Daniels Run ES was recognized as being On Track.
Visit the Budget Story webpage to learn more about the FCPS budget and the funding challenges that schools across Virginia, not just FCPS, face because of outdated state funding formulas. Read more of Dr. Reid’s Weekly Reflections.
Make Your Voice Heard!
Look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education and encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process. Several key decision dates and engagement opportunities are listed below:
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Thursday, December 18, 2025 - The Virginia Governor introduced the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget.
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m. - There will be virtual regional public hearings on the governor’s proposed 2026-28 biennial state budget.
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Thursday, January 22, 2026 - Dr. Reid will present the proposed FCPS budget to the School Board.
Winter Break Literacy Adventures
Engaging in literacy activities during winter break helps students maintain the reading, writing, and speaking skills they built during the first half of the school year. Even a little daily practice, such as these 10 fun family activities, helps ensure students return to school confident and ready to continue growing in literacy.
⛄ Winter Resources for Families
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during the upcoming winter break and on snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
 DRES Dragon's Crocheting Club
Come join our first ever crocheting club! The club is open to 5th and 6th graders only. All skill levels are welcome. Bring your own yarn and supplies or use some of ours. The club will meet every Thursday starting on January 8th -March 12th. Transportation will not be provided. Families must pick up students at 4:45pm. For questions email Mrs. Fisher at anfisher@fcps.edu or Ms. Jones at kmjones1@fcps.edu.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Make Your Voice Heard! Have an Impact on the Budget
- Go on a Literacy Adventure
- Enjoy Your Winter Break!
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 2025-2026 Standard School Year Calendar
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