|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
A Note from the Principal
Dear Daniels Run Families,
It was a truly wonderful week at Daniels Run as we came together to celebrate the joy of reading. Our students had a fantastic time participating in our theme days, and a major highlight was our guest reader program; we were honored to welcome leaders from every corner of our community, including our fellow City of Fairfax principals and representatives from the police and fire departments, Parks and Rec, City Council, and the Fairfax City School Board. We would like to extend a special thank you to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Reid, FCPS School Board Member Kyle McDaniel, Mayor Catherine Read, Police Chief Raul Pedroso, Fire Chief John O'Neal, City Superintendent Dr. Dustin Wright, and Assistant Superintendent Dan Phillips. Our students gained so much from your participation, and we deeply appreciate your support.
Looking ahead, please make sure to mark your calendars for our "This Is Us" International Night on Thursday, March 12, at 5:30 PM. This is widely considered one of the best nights of the entire school year, offering a beautiful opportunity to celebrate the diverse cultures that make our school community so unique. We can’t wait to see the halls filled with our families for this special event.
Lastly, I want to emphasize how vital our PTA is to the success of Daniels Run. From hosting engaging events for our students to providing teachers with essential classroom supplies and ensuring our community’s needs are met, their work is invaluable. We are always looking for more families to get involved, so please consider joining today. Daniels Run needs your voice and your support!
Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead.
Best regards,
Susan Mullen, Principal
Read Across America Week at Daniels Run
 FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid came to Daniels Run ES to read to Mrs. Denton's 4th grade class in celebration of Read Across America Week.
 Clockwise from top left: Police Chief, Raul Pedroso reading to Mrs. Thigpen's Preschool class; Fairfax City Assistant Superintendent, Dan Phillips reading to Mrs. McCrodden's 3rd grade class; City Councilmember, Rachel McQuillen reading to Ms. Jones' 6th grade class; and Fairfax City Superintendent, Dr. Dustin Wright reading to Mrs. Morrison's Kindergarten class.
Upcoming Dates
March 7: PTA Ice Skating Night at 6:45pm
March 8: Daylight Saving Time (Spring Forward)
March 12: "This is Us" International Night at 5:30pm
March 20: Eid-al-Fitr Holiday- No School
March 25: 3 Hour Early Release Wednesday (Dismissal at 12:45pm)
March 30- April 3: Spring Break- No School
April 6: Teacher Workday- No School
April 10: Teacher Workday- No School
April 10: Kindergarten Parent Information Session at 9-11am
SOL Test Schedule
-
3rd Grade Reading: May 6th
-
3rd Grade Math: May 12th
-
4th Grade Reading: May 5th
-
4th Grade Math: May 15th
-
5th Grade Writing: March 19th
-
5th Grade Reading: May 7th
-
5th Grade Math: May 14th
-
5th Grade Science: May 19th
-
6th Grade Reading: May 4th
-
6th Grade Math: May 11th
-
6th Grade Algebra: May 18th
Happy School Social Work Week
March 2-8 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Daniels Run ES is lucky to have Mrs. Carleton as our School Social Worker. We are thankful for all she does to help Daniels Run students and the community! Thank you, Mrs. Carleton!
|
PTA News
PTA Ice Skating Night THIS SATURDAY!
DRE students skate free this Saturday, March 7th from 6:45-8:15pm at Fairfax Ice Arena on 3779 Pickett Road, Fairfax, VA 22031.
Daniels Run Spirit Wear is Back!
Show your school pride in style and support your PTA at the same time! With every purchase, a portion of sales goes directly to your PTA! Browse the latest spirit wear styles for students, parents, and staff. Enjoy FREE school delivery on orders placed from March 5th through March 19th!
The Daniels Run PTA Nominating Committee has the very important job of seeking the next DRE PTA Board. If you or someone you know is interested please reach out to us!
Email us @ drenominatingcommittee@gmail.com for more information on board positions, committtes and event chair openings! We love fresh faces and welcome all!
International Spirit Week
Get ready! International Spirit Week is coming to Daniels Run from March 9th–13th. We’re spending the week celebrating the diverse cultures, traditions, and styles that make our community so special.
The highlight of the week? International Night!
-
When: Thursday, March 12th
-
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
-
What: Food, performances, and cultural displays!
Bring your family, your appetite, and your school spirit. Let’s celebrate the world together! 🌍✨
 |
|
Friendly Reminder
Please ensure children do not climb the trees on school property. Many of our trees—particularly those near the walker dismissal door and the Kiss & Ride loop—are young and cannot support the weight of a child. Climbing causes significant damage to their growth. Thank you for helping us protect our campus landscape!
|
🌎 Join Us for This is Us- International Night! 🌍
Celebrate our community at "This is Us - International Night" on Thursday, March 12th (5:30–7:30 PM)!
We are looking for families to represent their heritage:
-
Host a Cultural Table: Share your country’s traditions, history, or food.
-
Get Reimbursed: The PTA will provide a $50 reimbursement for your table display supplies!
-
Click Here to Sign-Up for a: Table Display
Come travel the world with student "passports" and stay for our community concert starting at 6:30 PM. We can’t wait to see you there!
Music News
MUSIC NEWS:
🎵 The March Musician of the Month is world-famous South African singer Miriam Makeba. She was known as Mama Afrika & sang Afropop, jazz & world music. She was the first African to singer to receive a Grammy Award. She was also known for speaking out against apartheid and racism everywhere.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
🎵 Thursday March 12 (5:30-7:30pm): This is Us: A Night of Cultural Celebration in the Hallways & Cafe (the concert portion is 6:30-7:30pm)
🎵 Friday March 13: International Day Concerts: 9:10-9:40am: & 9:50-10:20am in the Café
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
🎵 6th grader: Tosya, who will perform at Chicago Symphony Hall on Saturday, March 7. She’ll represent Daniels Run at the Organization of American Kodaly Educators National Conference Choir program.
SUMMER OPPORTUNTIES:
🎵 SUMMER CHOIR CAMP: 1 week camp at George Mason University: Grades 1-8.
🎵 E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students currently in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in 4 daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.
🎵 IFTA is a 2- or 3-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11.
|
Learn About Kindergarten at Daniels Run ES
Our kindergarten parent information session is being held on April 10th at 9-11am to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school.
We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Resources on the School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage provide parents with ways to support their children to help ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten.
There’s also an easy-to-follow five-step process outlined for registering your child for kindergarten. Register your child today! Contact our registrar at vvien@fcps.edu, (703) 279-8400 with any questions.
 
Community Clean Up Event
Roll up your sleeves and join us for our Community Clean-Up Event!
On Friday, April 10th (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), we’re gathering at Daniels Run to get our gardens and school grounds ready for spring. This is a fantastic opportunity for families to connect while giving back to our local environment.
It’s also a day of hands-on learning. You can dive into interactive sessions to master composting, help us plant a new tree, or sharpen your nature skills by learning to identify our city’s native tree species.
[Click here to Sign Up]
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a first-time volunteer, we’d love to see your family there!
-
Supervision: This is a family event, students must be accompanied by someone 18 or older.
-
Weather: This event is weather-dependent.
-
Updates: A full schedule will be shared as the date approaches.
Submit Photos for DRES Yearbook
 |
|
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.
|
 ⚽ Girls Soccer Clinics at Fairfax High – March 14 & April 10
Fairfax High School Girls Soccer is offering two upcoming clinics for players ages 7–14. Participants will work on ball skills, footwork, strategy, teamwork, and enjoy fun games and scrimmages. Choose from a Half-Day Clinic (March 14, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., $50) or a Full-Day Clinic (April 10, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., $85) — or register for both! For more information or to register visit http://www.givebutter.com/futurelionsgirlssoccer
 
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 March 8th, 2026. See google form for details.
Link to Poetry Contest Submission: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrjsabGOyuxhd86kkcQd68udc6KRd-Pd2ZYRlHOeL5CercrQ/viewform?usp=header
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.
Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment.
- Communication.
- Student success.
- Advocacy.
- Family and school partnerships.
- Community partnerships.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
-
Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
-
Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
-
Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
-
Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School.
-
Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
2026 Special Education Family Conference: Rescheduled
FCPS’ 2026 Special Education Family Conference has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marshall High School. Updated conference details are now available on the Special Education Family Conference webpage. Please register for the event. If you registered before, please re-register for the new date. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this date change may cause and appreciate your understanding.
Purple Up Day
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day!
This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military.
FCPS Purple Up! T-shirts and other items are available for purchase now through Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in our Custom Ink online store. These items highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS!
For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
 
Girls on the Run
Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs
FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County.
- Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
- Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible; space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.
If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
 
 
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- School Board Adopts Budget
- Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
- Countdown to Kindergarten: Supporting a Smooth Transition
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
|
