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Hello Bull Run Families,
Thank you to everyone who participated in FCPS' Purple Up! Day; seeing that show of support for our military-connected students was a great reminder of the strength and diversity within our school community.
The energy continues tomorrow night with Bull Run’s Got Talent! Our students have put in hours of rehearsal to perfect their acts, and they are ready for a live audience. We are also having our Staff Masked Singer event. A few brave staff members will be taking the stage in costume to showcase their hidden talents...or possibly more accurately their "lack thereof." It’s shaping up to be a fun night for everyone!
As we look toward Monday, we’ll be shifting our focus to the environment for Earth Week. Please take a moment to review the upcoming spirit days listed below so your students can join in as they learn mini lessons in class.
I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow night for the show!
Reminders:
Tomorrow April 10, is Bull Run Spirit Day! We encourage every student and staff member to wear our school colors (blue & white), or school spirit wear!
Also- Next Tuesday, April 21, there is no school for students due to the VA Statewide Election.
Have a wonderful weekend!
-Mr. Marotta
April 17: PTA Variety Show/Staff Masked Singer- Bull Run’s Got Talent! 5:30pm
April 18: Field Day for Military Families (Annandale HS, 12:00pm) / All County Chorus Festival, Lake Braddock Secondary, 3:00pm
April 20-24: Earth Week (Spirit Week details below)
April 20: Full-Time AAP Orientation, 5:30pm
April 21: VA Statewide Election Day (NO SCHOOL)
April 22: Administrative Professionals Day (Front Office Staff / Volunteer Appreciation Day / Spring Chorus Concert, 7:00pm / PTA Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night
April 23: PTA Meeting
April 28: Bus Driver Appreciation Day
April 30: Special Olympics Feet Meet (Madison HS, 9:30am-12:30pm / Kindergarten Orientation, 5:30pm
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National Arab American Heritage Month
FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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Month of the Military Child
April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS resources for military families.
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Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month. One in 31 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States, according to the CDC. Our schools and staff play a vital role in creating and ensuring inclusive environments that accommodate and affirm autistic students.
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*The full FCPS 2025-2026 calendar can be accessed here.
Mrs. Kahle's 3rd grade class made flowers on Purpe Up! Day in support of our military connected families
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6th grade recently held their 3rd annual Element Expo , showing off their science project presentations of learning.
From deep dives into the properties of Uranium to exploring the basics of Boron, the kids did a fantastic job researching and presenting their findings to their peers.
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On April 6, you should have received an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Staff Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity for you to share anonymous feedback on key areas of our school, including:
- Instructional Leadership
- School Climate
- Management (human resources and organizational)
- Communication and Community Relations
- Culturally Responsive and Equitable Leadership
- Professionalism
The survey will be open April 6 – April 19 and will be collected online. When you receive the email from noreply@fcps.edu, please take a few minutes to complete it.
Your feedback is valuable – thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!
Next week is Earth Week! While we all work hard to protect our planet each day, Earth Week gives us a chance to learn about new opportunities and make commitments to do even more. We will be doing activities at school and families can complete the BINGO board that was sent home by the teachers.
Each day next week has a theme and we will be having spirit days to match:
- Monday, April 20 – Wildlife Day - wear nature print
- Tuesday, April 21 – Zero Waste Day - wear white
- Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day - wear green
- Thursday, April 23 – Climate Change Day - wear red
- Friday, April 24- Watershed Day - wear blue
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Join the Bull Run PTA Board for the 2026-27 School Year!
Do you want to have a direct hand in making Bull Run Elementary an even better place for our kids? We are officially looking for parent and teacher volunteers to join our 2026-27 PTA Board!
Open Positions Include:
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Marketing Coordinator
VP of Programs
VP of Ways and Means
Teacher Liaisons & Members at Large
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Help Wanted: Recess Coverage Volunteers!
We are looking for some extra hands on the playground! To show our amazing teachers some extra appreciation, the PTA is organizing Recess Coverage from May 4th through May 8th. It’s a great way to get some fresh air, see the kids in action, and give our hardworking educators a well-deserved break. If you have some time to spare during that week, we’d love to have you join us!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054BADA623A1F9C25-63561702-teacher
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Bull Run’s Got Talent!
It’s time to Be Bold and Be Heard! Come out and support your classmates at our upcoming talent show. It’s going to be an unforgettable evening filled with music, entertainment, and lots of fun!
Here’s the lineup:
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Talent Show: See amazing student performances!
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Teacher Masked Singer: Can you guess who's behind the mask?
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BRES Art Showcase: Explore the incredible artwork from our students.
Event Details:
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Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
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Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM (Doors open at 5:00 PM)
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Food: Snacks and food will be available for purchase!
*Note: This is NOT a drop-off event. Parents must stay with their children.
We can't wait to see you there!
Take a night off from cooking and support our PTA! Our next Spirit Night is happening soon, and we’d love to see you there.
When: April 22nd | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Chick-fil-A (Chantilly Shopping Center)
How: Mention "Bull Run" at the register or use mobile code BullRun in the app.
Thanks for supporting our school—see you there!
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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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Junior Engineering Adventures (Grades K-2)
Looking for some after-school STEM fun? Engineering For Kids - NOVA is hosting a hands-on program where students build towers, cars, and even rockets!
When: Wednesdays, 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm (Room 109)
Dates: 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 6/3, and 6/10 (No class 5/20 & 5/27)
Price: $135 (Limited to 18 students!)
Register now: bull-run-elementary-school.square.site
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Join Ms. Kiehlmeier at TECHSTRAVAGANZA!
Event Location: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 10 AM to 4 PM
Cost: FREE
Registration: Thomas Jefferson HS is asking families to register to get a better estimate of how many lab materials to prepare for the day.
For more information and to register please visit the link: https://techstrav.org/
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Score Your Tickets for Bull Run PTA Night!
Looking for a fun way to support the school and enjoy some professional soccer? The Bull Run PTA is heading to a Washington Spirit game, and you’re invited!
It’s going to be an exciting night under the lights with our community. Here are the details:
When: Friday, May 30
Kickoff: 6:30 PM
Price: Tickets start as low as $30
Ready to join us? You can grab your seats by scanning the QR code in the flyer or visiting the purchase link.
Going with a big group? If you are looking to purchase 10 or more tickets, please reach out directly to Jordyn Petroff at jpetroff@washspirit.com for assistance.
Let’s get out there and show our Bull Run spirit!
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Spring Multi-Sport Clinic
Perfect for a quick skills boost! This one-day clinic covers a variety of sports in a high-energy environment.
When: April 19, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Who: Grades 1–6
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Summer Multi-Sport Camp
Keep the momentum going all summer long at the SYA Sports Park. These camps are designed for all skill levels and are a great way to make new friends.
When: Sessions running in June & July
Options: Half-day and full-day sessions available
Who: Groups for Grades 1–3 and 4–6
Ready to play? Head over to syasports.org to grab your spot before they fill up!
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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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BENCHMARK UPDATE
Finishing Up Journeys and Themes in Language Arts
Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about the different lessons that stories across cultures can teach us.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: If you could go on an adventure like one of the characters you’ve read about in this unit, which one would it be and why?
- Activity: Ask your child to imagine that they’re going on an adventure. Ask them to draw the items they’ll need to take with them. Would their supplies be different if the adventure was underwater or somewhere very cold?
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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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:
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
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Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments
Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.
Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
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:
- Calendar Updates
- Teacher on The Kelly Clarkson Show
- Support Your Student During SOLs
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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