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A Note From the Principal
Dear Daniels Run families,
As we look ahead to a potential snowstorm, I want to remind families that the school district will share any information about closures or delays through the district website and by email. Please rely on these official communications for updates next week. District resources for students and information for families can be found on the Winter Weather Resources page
I am also happy to share a few highlights from our school community. Last night, 130 of our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students performed in the Winter Strings Concert. Their growth and hard work were evident, and it was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the arts and our talented musicians. Thank you to the more than 400 family members and friends who came out to support our students!
We also enjoyed another fun activity celebrating a successful Dragon Drive. As promised, I was slimed by our first graders—this sticky moment brought lots of excitement and smiles across the grade level.
Looking ahead, we will be celebrating the rich culture of our school community on March 12th at This Is Us – A Cultural Celebration. That evening will feature performances organized by our music department, as well as tables with food and information from families sharing their cultures and traditions. We would love to have as many Daniels Run families participate in this fun evening as possible. If you would like a table that night, please see the sign-up below. Our PTA can reimburse families up to $50 for supplies—just be sure to save your receipts.
Music Contact: Michelle McCarten mmmcarten@fcps.edu
Table Contact: Estefania Castro ecastro1@fcps.edu
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I am grateful to work with such a supportive school community and look forward to the week ahead.
Warm regards,
Susan Mullen
Upcoming Dates
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
February 16: President's Day Holiday- No School
February 17: Teacher Workday- No School
February 27: PTA Bingo Night
March 7: PTA Ice Skating Night
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Upcoming Student Holidays
January 28th is the end of the 2nd quarter and there is a 2 hour early dismissal. Students will be dismissed at 1:45 p.m. There is NO aftercare.
January 29th and 30th are student holidays. The 29th is a staff development day and the 30th is a teacher work day. There is no school for students on these days.
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Principal Mullen was Slimed!
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 weather. 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 snow or inclement weather days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
Dance Party Friday at Daniels Run!
 Valentines Parents Night Out
Enjoy your Valentines date night and drop your kids off at Fairfax High School on Friday, February 13th. Drop off is 5:00-5:30PM. Pick up is 8:30-9:00PM. Drop off and pick up at Door 23 to the right of the main entrance. $10 per kid and cash only. Scan QR code to register.
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
PTA Baskets & Bingo Night
Friday, February 27th
Mark your calendars, a favorite event is just around the corner!
We are looking for volunteers to help out the night of OR to help put classroom baskets together.
Please click the link below for more information. We will reach out to all volunteers with additional information.
Baskets & Bingo Volunteer Sign Up
6th Grade Valentine Fundraiser
Use this link to purchase a Valentine for a friend or Teacher! All proceeds benefit the graduating 6th grade class.
Poetry Contest- Arbor Day 2026
In celebration of Arbor Day on April 25, 2026 Fairfax City Environmental Sustainability Committee is planning a poetry contest. The focus of the poetry contest is "Protect the Environment Around You". Such as, nature, the importance of trees, climate change, human impact on nature, global warming, decline in various species, or anything else related to environmental awareness and stewardship.
This poetry contest is open to all students of Daniels Run ES, Providence ES, Katharine Johnson MS, and Fairfax HS.
One poetry winner from each city school will receive the award of $50. The winner will also be invited to read their poetry at the Fairfax City Arbor Day Celebration on April 25, 2026 at Pat Radio Park in Fairfax City at 9AM. (Details will be shared closer to the date)
Poetry Submission deadline is February 27th, 2026. See google form for details.
Link to Poetry Contest Submission: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrjsabGOyuxhd86kkcQd68udc6KRd-Pd2ZYRlHOeL5CercrQ/viewform?usp=header
Upcoming Activities at City Of Fairfax Library
The City of Fairfax branch is hosting some fun programs over the next few weeks.
Submit Photos for DRES Yearbook
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Do you have photos you want to submit to the DRES yearbook?
Upload your photos using the Lifetouch community upload site and enter our school’s unique school code DRES-DRAGONS-26-26.
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Music News
🎵 UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS
🎵 Congratulations to:
- 🎻The 4th-6th grade string students. 👏🏼 They performed a fantastic concert last night under the direction of Mx. Villa & Ms. Venne. Bravo!
- The Daniels Run Singers who performed in the VOKE Children’s Choral Festival in Manassas last Sunday at Woodbridge High School. The choral festival featured 150 elementary students (4th-6th graders) from the region performing with a guest conductor.
🎵 Auditions for the “This is Us”(International Night/Day) concerts. All families, students & staff 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 Michelle McCarten with any questions.
🎵 The January Musician of the Month is Yoko Shimomura who is one of the most influential video game composers of our time. She was born & still resides in Japan. Yoko Shimomura has composed music for over 45 video games, including Kingdom Hearts, Super Mario, Legend of Mana & Adventures in the Magic Kingdom.
Student Experience Survey
 Hello DRES 3rd-6th grade families,
Soon our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 23, and Friday, March 6. While it is our hope that as many students as possible will participate, if you do not wish for your child to take part in this survey, please complete the opt out information HERE.
We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals. Thank you!
 Karate Spring Session
The next session of Karate begins on February 2nd. It will take place every Monday at 4:00pm in the gym. The deadline to sign up is Monday, January 26th. Please contact Mr. Gayl with questions at jgayl@fcps.edu. See link below to sign up your student.
New Year 2026 Karate Session Sign Up Link
Wear Red Day on February 13th
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- 📱 More News and Updates — on the go — With the FCPS App
- Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Volunteers Needed
- Connect With Your Kids: Simple Steps to Stronger Communication
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
Quick Links
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