Cub Run Family Newsletter

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Cubbie buddies having fun!


Upcoming Dates

March 25: Three-hour Early Release Wednesday - Dismissal at 12:25pm

March 27: Quarter 3 Ends, Early Dismissal at 1:25pm

March 27: SCA Spirit Day - Team Up for a Great Day!

March 30 - April 3: No School - Spring Break

April 6: No School - Teacher Workday

April 8: Westfield Pyramid Art Show - 6:00pm; Westfield High School

April 9: Den Meetings: Den of Wonder & Den of Adventure

April 10: No School - Teacher Workday

April 10: Cub Run vs. Virginia Run Volleyball Game - 7:00-9:00pm; Westfield High School

April 13-16: Spring Book Fair

April 13: Den Meetings: Den of Discovery & Den of Exploration

April 15: Purple Up! Day - Wear purple for military kids

April 17: Military Connected Family Breakfast

April 18: FCPS All-County Chorus Concert-3:00pm; Lake Braddock Secondary School

April 20-24: Earth Week - Spirit Week

April 21: No School - Virginia Special Election

April 22: Earth Day Clean-up

April 25: PTA Spring Fling

April 29: Three-hour Early Release Wednesday - Dismissal at 12:25pm

April 30: AAP Orientation - 5:30pm; Rocky Run Middle School

2025-26 school year calendar


Cubbie News

Dear Cub Run Families and Friends,

As we prepare to wrap up another fantastic week, we want to remind everyone that this Friday, March 27, marks the end of the third quarter. It has been a busy and productive quarter, and we are proud of the growth our students have shown!

Important Reminders:

  • Early Release: Students will be dismissed two hours early this Friday at 1:25pm. Please ensure your afternoon transportation and plans are in place.
  • Spring Break: School will be closed from Monday, March 30, through Monday, April 6.
  • Return to School: We look forward to welcoming our Cubbies back to the building on Tuesday, April 7.

Whether you are traveling or enjoying a relaxing "staycation," we wish you all a safe, restful, and wonderful spring break. Take this time to recharge—we have an exciting fourth quarter ahead of us!

Warmly,

Melissa Miller, Principal

Nausheen Haider, Assistant Principal


Calendar Reminders

Quarter End/Early Release

Friday, March 27, is the last day of the third quarter and an early release day for students. We dismiss at 1:25pm. 

Spring Break

Schools and school offices will be closed from Monday, March 30, to Friday, April 3, for spring break. Monday, April 6, is a teacher workday, and there will be no school for students. 

See the school year calendar.


SCA Spirit Day - March 27

Our next SCA spirit day is on March 27 - Team Up for a Great Day! Wear something that represents your favorite sport, team, or their colors!

SCA Day

This is Us

This is Us!: A celebration of our Cub Run community.

Date and Time: 

Thursday, May 21, from 5:30pm-7:00pm

Location:

Cub Run Elementary School Cafeteria and Front Lobby

What is "This is Us!"?

At Cub Run Elementary, one of our greatest strengths is the different cultures and traditions that walk through our doors every morning. We believe that every family brings something unique to our community, and now it’s time to celebrate it!

We are excited to invite you to "This is Us!", a special community event dedicated to learning more about the various cultures and heritages that make up Cub Run.

To find out more information or how you can participate, visit the school website here.


Purple Up! Day - April 15

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. For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email militaryfamilies@fcps.edu. 


Earth Week - April 20-24

Dress up and celebrate Earth Week! 

4/24 - Wear nature print

4/25 - Wear white

4/26 - Wear green

4/27 - Wear red

4/24 - Wear blue

Earth Week 2026

April Statewide Election: No School for Students

There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled. 

Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.


ST Math: March Mathness is Heating Up!

Our March Mathness ST Math bracket-style tournament is off to an awesome start! Classes are competing for the ultimate prize: a Popsicle or Pizza Party celebration.

Beyond the bracket, every student is aiming for the 1,000-puzzle milestone. Research shows that reaching this goal leads to significantly higher growth on year-end tests, so keep up that momentum at home!

🏆 Advancing to Round 3 (Elite 8):

Congratulations to the following classes moving forward:

Ms. Coch (2nd grade), Ms. Welliver (1st grade), Ms. Cousino (1st grade), Ms. Jensen (1st grade), Ms. Lee (4th grade), Ms. Dent (6th grade), Ms. Hagen (4th grade), Ms. Brown (3rd grade)

Good luck to all our mathematicians—keep those puzzles clicking!


Save the Dates: SOL Testing

Spring SOL dates have been published as follows:

3rd Grade: 5/5 Reading, 5/12 Math

4th Grade: 5/5 Reading, 5/12 Math

5th Grade: 5/7 Reading, 5/14 Math, 5/19 Science

6th Grade: 5/7 Reading, 5/14 Math 

2025 2026 Spring SOLs

Attendance is Important: Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

School accreditation ratings in Virginia are based on student performance across nine school quality indicators within the state’s Student Performance and Support Framework (SPSF). One of these indicators is chronic absenteeism. Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, regardless of reason and whether the absence was excused or unexcused.  A student is determined to be chronically absent if the rate of their days absent divided by their total days in membership is greater than or equal to 10% - that is only 2 days per month on average. 

As of March 25, Cub Run’s Year to Date Chronic Absenteeism rate has increased to 11.4%, being in the yellow zone. As we finish out the remainder of this school year, we will continue to update this percentage with you in hopes that we can move into an acceptable chronic absenteeism rate of 10% or lower. 

As we approach our upcoming break, we want to emphasize how vital your child’s presence is to their success. Every day in the classroom is an opportunity for discovery, and we want to ensure every student finishes this school year strong!


Spring Break Schedule

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming break and the return to instruction:

  • Spring Break: Monday, March 30 – Friday, April 3
  • Student Holiday: Monday, April 6 (Teacher Workday)
  • School Resumes: Tuesday, April 7, 2026

We are eager to welcome your children back to school on Tuesday, April 7. Their attendance is very important; teachers will be teaching and students will be learning right up until the final bell of the year.

Did you know? Studies have shown that just two absences per month can cause students to fall behind. Consistent attendance helps students build confidence, maintain friendships, and stay on track with their lessons.

Let’s finish this school year strong. Visit our website for more attendance resources


Positivity Project

This week, our school is focusing on the character strength of  Identifying and appreciating the good in others. It’s important to deliberately work to identify and appreciate others’ character strengths. It’s not always easy to notice people’s strengths, but it’s something we should all practice.

Often, it’s easier to blame others or focus on their mistakes, which can lead to negative feelings like jealousy or frustration. This negativity can create problems, not just for us but also for our relationships with others.

When we make an effort to see the good in people, we start to see the world in a more positive way. If we always focus on the bad, it feels like we’re surrounded by negativity, which makes us defensive and stressed. This doesn’t mean we should ignore reality or pretend everything is perfect, but we should try to understand others and recognize their good intentions. When we see the good in others, they are more likely to see the good in us.

To practice and encourage the 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!


2025-2026 Yearbooks Are On Sales Now!

Yearbooks are available for purchase: $25 for a yearbook and $28 for a yearbook with a name imprinted on the front cover.

Please see the flyer below for the QR code for ordering.

Note: "Angel Donation" is an option too if you would like to purchase a yearbook that will be donated to a student that otherwise could not afford to purchase one.

2025 2026 Yearbook Ordering Information

Westfield High School International Night

Mark your calendars for Westfield’s International Night on March 26. It’s going to be a vibrant celebration of culture, food, and talent starting right at 5 PM.

Here is the breakdown of what’s happening and where:

The Details

  • Location: Westfield HS - 4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151
  • Admission: Entry is free for FCPS students. For adults and all other guests, tickets are $5

Evening Schedule

  • Potluck (5–6 PM): Cafeteria
  • Fashion Show (6–7 PM): Gym
  • Performances (7–9 PM): Gym
  • Food Trucks (5–9 PM): Outside
    • Halal Grill: Middle Eastern chicken and gyros
    • Pako’s Tacos: Mexican tacos and quesadillas
    • District Small Bites: Classic American
    • Brewster’s: American ice cream
    • DC Slices: Italian pizza

WHS International Night 2026

WHS International Night Food Trucks

International Night WF H
International Night food Trucks

FCPS News

Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

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: 

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.


Educate Fairfax Student Bookmark Contest

Educate Fairfax is sponsoring a divisionwide Student Bookmark Art Contest during March. FCPS students in grades K–12 are invited to design a 2” x 7” bookmark celebrating the power of learning and creativity under the theme “Today’s Reader, Tomorrow’s Leader.”

 Artwork must be original, flat (no glitter or pop-ups), and include the student’s name, grade, and school on the back. Entries will be judged on creativity, connection to the theme, and overall effort. Four winners (K–2, 3–6, middle, and high) will each receive a $25 gift card, and winning designs will be printed and shared in schools and the community.  Entries are DUE April 17.

Submissions may be mailed to Educate Fairfax (8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031), emailed to info@educatefairfax.org, or sent via pony mail. Educate Fairfax Bookmark Contest Flyer and Instructions.  


FCPS CARES

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an FCPS CARES! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on fcps.edu. Additionally, each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. 


Commanders Camps

Commanders Camps are holding camps July 20-24, July 27-31, and 8/3-7.  Use the available QR code to sign up!

Chantilly Camp

Flag Star Football

Use the available QR code to sign up for flag football!

Flag Star Flyer

Reminders

Update Date Change: CRES vs VRES Volleyball Game 

We wanted to inform you about a scheduling change regarding the upcoming volleyball game. After careful consideration and in light of the recent success of the Westfield High School boys' basketball team, we have decided to move the volleyball game from March 6 to April 10.

We do recognize that April 10 is a teacher workday. However, our cheerleader/dance team coaches, physical education teachers, and administrative teams are fully committed to ensuring this will be a successful and enjoyable evening. We hope that having the day off will allow our students to be well-rested and excited for this great event.

We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we make this adjustment. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Best regards,

Melissa Miller, Principal, Cub Run Elementary School

Dave Gerstner, Principal, Virginia Run Elementary School


Benchmark Unit 6

📚 Journeys and Themes in Language Arts 📚

Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts is about the lessons we can learn from different stories around the world. Students in K-5 will be learning about themes across cultures. Sixth grade students will learn about legendary journeys. 

Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:

  • Question: What’s a lesson that you’ve learned recently, or a challenge you had?
  • Activity: Pick a few of your child’s favorite books or classic stories such as “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” With your child, discuss each story and whether it has a lesson. 

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.


Kinder Info Session May 2026

Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…

FCPS registration is now available for rising kindergarten students. 

There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:

  1. Determine eligibility (Your student must have turned 5 years old by 09/30/2026 to be eligible to be registered.)
  2. Identify your local school. 
  3. Gather documents. 
  4. Fill out forms. 
  5. Schedule an appointment.

Try Online Registration:

There are two ways to start the registration process :

  • You can submit intent form here and our Student Information Assistant (SIA) will contact you via email with further instructions.
  • Online registration for the 2026-27 school year is open for parents/caregivers. When registering, parents/caregivers will create (or log into an existing) SIS Parent VUE account. Follow the instructions on the page and complete the registration process.
  • Once you have submitted the registration packet online, our Student Information Assistant (SIA) Mrs. Namrata Saxena will contact you via email to set up an appointment to meet her in person.  You can also reach her at 703-633-7500.

If you need a paper copy of the registration packet, it can be picked up at the front office.


Cub Run Preschool Community Peers

Cub Run Elementary is pleased to announce that we will have community peers in our preschool programs which include, Early Childhood Class-Based and Preschool Autism Classes. The Community Peer Program provides an opportunity for preschoolers with all abilities to work and play on a regular basis.

Our program will invite community peers,  who are aged 3 - 4 years old, to join our classrooms. The early childhood special education program uses a child-centered approach to learning. The goal of this program is to encourage active learning and promote social interaction and acceptance. 

Please complete the attached interest form or  Families Interested in Community Peer Program Google Form if you would like your 3-4 year old child to be considered for the Community Peer Program.

Community Peers

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ccares

Be Informed, Stay Involved!