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Hello Bull Run Families,
Well, this was quite the interesting week wasn't it? I am grateful to our staff and students for being positive and flexible throughout this week. I am very aware of the continued impact that snow and ice have had across our community, particularly at bus stops and along neighborhood roads. Please continue to use caution and prioritize safety as you travel.
We are grateful for your partnership, patience, and support as we navigate these conditions together. Please know that the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, and we appreciate the care our community continues to show for one another. I am hopeful that the warmer temperatures will come soon so that some of the hazards can melt away!
On to other news-
As we close out the 2nd quarter and move into the second half of the school year, our focus remains the same: High achievement and effort, while having ownership of our words and actions; being #chargerSTRONG.
Below, you will find charts demonstrating our winter scores on the Mathematics MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments. Beyond just high scores, we are focusing on growth—how much each student improves over time. Currently, our school-wide median growth is at the 65th percentile. This shows that our students aren't just maintaining their levels; they are actively climbing higher! Thank you to our dedicated teachers and supportive families for making these gains possible. Let’s keep this momentum going through the spring!
At the end of the 2nd quarter, our chronic absenteeism rate is trending in the positive direction! This time last year, we were hovering at a little over 12% of our students being considered chronically absent. As of today, we at 9.8%! I am very proud of this statistic, and you all should be as well.
Reminders:
Tomorrow is the first Friday of the month, so it is team jersey day! We encourage every student and staff member to wear a jersey, shirt or colors of their favorite team or sport! Unless it's the Patriots.... just kidding! Enjoy the Super Bowl for those that will be watching!
Have a wonderful weekend!
-Mr. Marotta
February 07: Bull Run Special Olympics Basketball Game, 3:00pm @ Woodson H.S.
February 11: The 100th Day of School!
February 13: SCA Spirit Day- Sports Day
February 16: Presidents Day (NO SCHOOL)
February 17: Lunar New Year / Ramadan begins at Sundown (Teacher work day- NO SCHOOL)
February 18: Ash Wednesday/First Full Day of Ramadan
February 25: Three-Hour Early Release Wednesday
February 26: School Wide Spelling Bee
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Thank you to Bull Run 4th grade teacher, Ms. Watkins, for creating our school's Black History Month poster display. |
*The full FCPS 2025-2026 calendar can be accessed here.
Mrs. Louie's 3rd grade class won the Attendance Drive of the Month trophy for January. They had an impressive 98% positve attendance rate for the month!
 When looking at our school as a whole, our median achievement percentile jumped from the 68th percentile in the Fall to the 75th percentile this Winter.
Student Fasting Meal Kits
From February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.
Important Meal Kit Information:
- Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
- Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
- Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
- Kits are distributed at the end of the school day. Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.
Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:
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February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
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February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
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February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
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March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
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March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026
Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.
 Want to see your art on the front of every school yearbook? Now is your chance! We are officially looking for student designs for the 2025-2026 Yearbook Cover.
The Details:
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Format: 8.5" x 11" paper.
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Must Include: "2025-2026" and "CHARGERSTRONG".
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On the Back: Name, Teacher, and Grade.
The Prizes: The winner gets their art on the Front Cover, a free yearbook, and a new art set! Runner-ups will be featured on the back cover.
Deadline: February 13, 2026
How to Enter: Email bullrunyearbook@gmail.com or drop your art off at the front office.
It’s time to get those study lists ready—the Spelling Bee is coming to Bull Run Elementary! We have two big dates for our students to mark on their calendars:
Classroom Bees: These will take place by February 13th.
School-Wide Bee: The top spellers will move on to the big event on February 26th.
We can't wait to see our students show off their skills!
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Parenting Education Program at Bull Run ES
We are excited to invite our Bull Run families to a special Parenting Education Program. This session is designed to offer actionable techniques for building self-esteem in children, encouraging positive behavior, and managing family stress. It’s a wonderful opportunity to gain confidence and connect with a supportive community of fellow parents.
When: Monday, February 23 | 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Note: This program is FREE and also offered in Spanish.
Sign Up: Spots are limited! Please contact our Family Liaison, Lilith Albornoz, at 703-227-1417 or email llalbornoz@fcps.edu to reserve your place.
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Join the Bull Run Chess Club!
Registration is now open for the Silver Knights Chess Academy winter session! Open to students in Grades K-6, this club is a fantastic way to build critical thinking skills while having a blast.
When: Mondays, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Dates: Feb 23 – May 18 (11 weeks)
Cost: $234 (includes a Chesskid Gold membership!)
Sign up today at www.chessacademy.com
Questions? Email info@chessacademy.com or call 703-574-2070.
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Pre-orders for the '25-'26 Bull Run Elementary Yearbook are officially open. Buying early ensures your student gets their copy before they sell out.
Deadline: Order by April 26
Yearbook ID: 15367026
How to Order: Head to ybpay.lifetouch.com and use the ID code above.
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Celebrate the Year of the Horse!
Looking for some weekend family fun? The 17th Annual Chinese New Year Festival is happening soon! This year’s theme is Filial Piety, and there is a huge lineup of activities including a Dragon Parade, live performances, and delicious Asian cuisine. It’s a great way to experience a beautiful cultural tradition right here in our community.
When: Saturday, February 14 | 10:30 am – 5:30 pm
Where: Luther Jackson Middle School (3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church)
Cost: Adults $5, Kids (6-12) $2, Kids under 6 are FREE.
More Info: www.ChineseNewYearFestival.org
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BENCHMARK UPDATE
Finishing Up Different Perspectives in Language Arts
Benchmark Unit 4 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about the perspectives of characters, authors, and readers.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: If your pet (or a stuffed animal) could talk, what do you think it would say about its day?
- Activity: Ask your child to retell a familiar story from another character’s point of view.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
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Recognizing BRES staff who go above and beyond
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, 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 at Bull Run Elementary. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
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It’s SCA Sports Spirit Day!
Chargers, get your gear ready! Friday, February 13th is Sports Spirit Day. Show off your favorite team, athlete, or sport by wearing:
Sports Jerseys
Athletic Gear
Favorite Athlete Apparel
Let’s be #ChargerSTRONG by showing great sportsmanship and teamwork all day long!
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BULL RUN FRIDAYS!
Bull Run Elementary encourages every student to wear our school colors (blue & white), or school spirit wear every Friday! This is a simple way we can show our community pride! Make a plan with friends and see how many of you can participate! Staff often wear their blue and white or Spirit Wear on Fridays too!
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https://bullrun.deco-apparel.com/ Order Bull Run Spirit Wear at any time throughout the school year!
Jersey Day! Every First Friday of the Month!
Bull Run Elementary encourages every student and staff member to wear a jersey, shirt or colors of their favorite team or sport!
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Warm Up FCPS – Division Wide Spirit Day
Tired of all the cold weather? Let’s warm up with a little school spirit across the division!
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid is encouraging all FCPS students, teachers, and staff to shake the wrinkles out of their brightest outfits and tropical wear to help brighten everyone’s moods on Friday, February 20.
Learn About Kindergarten at Bull Run ES!
Our kindergarten open house is being held on April 30th, from 5:30-7:00pm, to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school.
Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation or any other introductory events our school may host. Read more about the registration process. For more information, please call our registrar, Maria Betancourth in the main office.
Try Online Registration
Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process. When registering, parents will create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
Apply for Your Child to Learn in Two Languages
FCPS’ 2026-27 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program lottery opens on Monday, January 12. The program offers students in kindergarten and first grade the opportunity to learn in English and another language — French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish — for half of each instructional day.
The online, countywide lottery is open to Fairfax County residents. Families must have a SIS ParentVUE account. Students not currently enrolled in FCPS should register at their base school before applying for the immersion program.
Families applying for first grade must do so by Thursday, February 12, at 4 p.m. Those applying for kindergarten must do so by Monday, March 2, at 4 p.m.
Informational meetings will begin in January. View dates and details on the FCPS calendar. If you have questions, please contact Brigid Williams at 571-423-4600.
Centreville High School Junior, Vivien Berg, has developed a website (SOLace) to be used by teachers, students, and families, with supporting SOL success. She worked alongside VDOE and has developed her own non-profit to ensure this support is free and available to all students. SOLace is a new website that allows students from grades 3-12 to prepare for any math, reading, or science SOL using interactive practice tests. The website is fully not-for-profit with zero fees or sign-ups, so students can get to practicing in seconds in the classroom or at home. SOLace uses past test questions from officially released SOLs and contains intuitive explanations for each question, helping students learn and grow through their practice. Its user-friendly design and advanced accessibility features make it suitable for all students. Visit learnsolace.org today to see how SOLace turns practice into progress.
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Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
Tutoring Resources for Families
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.
Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to Families
Being connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:
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School Age Child Care (SACC) – This Fairfax County government program provides a safe and fun environment before and after school for elementary school-age children.
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FCPS Communications for Families – FCPS shares news and information to support student learning and promote family involvement.
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Family Academy – Where families can learn and get support for their child's school journey. Learn more on our website.
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Do You Know About Family Liaisons – Family liaisons serve as a link between families and schools. Find out how family liaisons can support you and your family.
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FCPS This Week
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- How to Get Weather Updates ASAP
- Celebrating Students and Staff
- Kindergarten Open Houses
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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#chargerSTRONG
Mr. Marotta, Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Rozzoni are proud of our #chargerSTRONG community!
Want to view previous Bull Run Bulletins? Click here.
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