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Dear Bull Run Families,
What a wonderful first week of school! It has been great seeing our hallways and classes filled with energy as students learn their new daily routines and build friendships with their classmates.
Thank you so much for your patience as we all adjust to arrival and dismissal processes. Transportation is typically slower during the first few weeks of school, and our new student ID card system will likely add an extra layer of adjustment that can cause minor delays (see information below in the highlights section). If there is ever a significant bus delay, we will send an E-Notify or Talking Points message to keep you updated. If you are simply wondering about a standard delay, feel free to reach out to me directly via Talking Points to check in.
For our Kiss and Ride families, especially those with younger students, you can help our line move quickly and safely by practicing a few quick routines at home:
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Learn Their Number: Practice your child’s Kiss and Ride number with them so they recognize it when staff call it out.
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Curb-Side Seating: Seat younger students on the passenger/curb side of the vehicle so they can enter and exit safely without you needing to step out of the car.
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Buckle Practice: Have your child practice unbuckling in the morning and buckling themselves in at dismissal.
As we head into Week 2, our teachers have been introducing lessons on Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). Administration will also be meeting with each grade level next week to review our schoolwide expectations and talk about what it truly means to be Charger STRONG at Bull Run.
Tomorrow, Friday August 28th, is our first spirit day. Bull Run Elementary encourages every student and staff to wear our school colors (blue & white), or school spirit wear every Friday! See the Spirit Day section of the newsletter below for more details.
Have a wonderful weekend!
-Mr. Marotta
*The full FCPS 2026-2027 calendar can be accessed here.
September 04 and 07: NO SCHOOL (Labor Day Holiday)
September 08: PTA Meeting (information coming soon)
September 11: Patriot Day (observance)
September 11-13: Rosh Hashanah (observance) begins and ends at Sundown
September 15 and 17: Back To School Nights
September 15 (PK-3); September 17 (4-6);
Two session options for families that may have multiple students in different grades:
5:30 – 5:50 Principal Welcome in Cafeteria for session 1
5:55 – 6:25 Classrooms Session 1 / Principal Welcome in Cafeteria for session 2
6:30 – 7:00 Classrooms Session 2
September 20-21: Yom Kippur (observance) begins and ends at Sundown
September 25: PTA’s Back To School Bash event, 5:30pm-7:30pm
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Mrs. Seema Dixit, Sully District Representative for the Fairfax County School Board, came to welcome all of our new students into the building this past Monday! We thank her for the support of our school!
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Ms. Herbst and her 2nd grade class spent time exploring and working with math manipulatives this week! |
Volunteers and Visitors at Bull Run: Beginning September 21st.
To ensure a smooth transition for all students, we will not be accepting classroom visitors or volunteers until the week of September 21st. This pause applies to all volunteer roles, including Wednesday Folder stuffers and library helpers, as well as guest visits to the cafeteria to eat lunch with your child.
Reserving these first few weeks exclusively for students and staff allows our young learners to build independence and confidence as they master school routines without added distractions. Additionally, it gives our staff the time needed to finalize classroom schedules, foster strong classroom communities, and fully solidify building security and guest sign-in procedures. We deeply appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we lay a strong, safe foundation for the year ahead, and we look forward to welcoming our wonderful family volunteers into the building starting September 21st!
TIPS AND REMINDERS:
New Bus Student ID Cards
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.
The IDs have been provided to all students who are assigned the bus and will continue into this upcoming week by the school. We will support affixing them to student back packs. Please DO NOT remove or move the badge from the back pack at any time. I
If they are not regular bus riders, you may remove it and keep it at home in a safe place in case the need ever arises.
Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. This will likely add some delays in student arrival and drop off times as the routines are established by the individual bus drivers.
The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
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Here is an example of where the badge should be attached to student back packs. This location is intended to create ease of access and proximity to where the students will need to tap the badges on the bus. |
Upcoming PTA Events:
- Virtual PTA Meeting: September 8 at 7 PM (details coming soon)
- Back to School Bash: September 25
- Trunk or Treat: October 30 - NEW DATE
- Winterfest: December 4
The PTA Needs You!
Join the PTA to have a voice in shaping your child’s school, build lasting connections with families and teachers, and help create opportunities that make every student’s experience stronger and more successful.
- Volunteer for PTA "Power Hours" - Sign Up Today
- Can't volunteer time? The PTA has an Amazon Wishlist for event supplies for the upcoming events.
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After School Clubs - Registration Now Open
Chess Club All Grades: September 28-December 14 | Mondays | 4:15-5:15 PM Cost: $220 REGISTER
Flag Football Grades K-2: September 28-November 3 | Mondays | 4:15-5:15 PM Grades 3-6: September 24-November 12| Thursdays | 4:15-5:15 PM Cost: $160 REGISTER
RunFit Kidz Grades 1-6: September 22-November 10 | Tuesdays | 4:15-5:30 PM Cost: $134 REGISTER (Click on "register now" and select Bull Run Elementary School)
Music (Piano & Guitar) Grades 1-3: Guitar: September 22-November 10 | Tuesdays | 4:15-5:15 PM Grades 3-6: Piano: September 22-November 10 | Tuesdays | 4:15-5:15 PM REGISTER
SYA Soccer Grades 1-4: September 7-November 4 | Wednesdays | 4:15-5:15 PM REGISTER
Art Thursday 4:15-5:30 PM Registration coming soon
Sponsored by the BRES PTA, these introductory music classes require no prior experience or instrument. Parents and teachers are welcome to join as well!
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Who: Guitar for Grades 1–3 (with Ms. Berg); Piano for Grades 3–6 (with Dr. Lee)
When: Tuesdays, 4:15–5:15 PM | Sept 22 – Nov 10 (No class on Nov 3)
Cost: $140 for 7 weeks (+$15 fee if you don't own a guitar; includes a take-home portable fretboard)
Deadline: Register by Saturday, Sept 12
How to Join: Visit www.MusicallyCreative.com
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Not Just Dance After School Theatre Program A fun environment for kids to build confidence, communication, and imagination through improv games, role-playing, choreography, and scene work.
Who: Grades 1–6
When: Fridays, 4:15–5:15 PM | Sept 18 – Dec 18, 2026 (10 weeks; No class Sept 25, Oct 30, Nov 27, Dec 4)
Cost: $145 per student (includes a $5 PTA fee)
Deadline: Register by Wednesday, Sept 16, 2026 (First come, first serve)
How to Join: Register at notjustdance.net/special-programs/after-school-program/ or call 571-392-3209
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SYA After School Soccer Club Get active after school with co-ed skills, games, and fun!
Who: Grades 1–4
When: Wednesdays, 4:15–5:15 PM | Sep 7 – Nov 4, 2026 (No club on Oct 21)
Where: Indoors at Bull Run ES
Cost: $180 for 8 weeks
How to Join: Register at www.syasports.org or email info@syasports.org
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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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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!
https://bullrun.deco-apparel.com/ Order Bull Run Spirit Wear at any time to get ready for the school year!
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Be on the look out for upcoming SCA Spirit Days throughout the year! |
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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Everything You Need to Do in SIS ParentVUE
Are you working your way through back-to-school forms and checklists? Make sure you have a SIS ParentVUE account for your family and log in to find important forms and updates.
- Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in ParentVUE. To update your contact information in ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
- Submit daylong absences by clicking “Report Absence.”
If you do not have a ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources
Families can now easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Opt In or Out to Student Devices Being Sent Home for Grades 1-6
New this year, families can opt out of having student laptops sent home with their student.
- If you do not want your student to bring their FCPS-issued device home, please toggle the Opt Out button to a check mark and confirm by pressing Save Selection.
- If you would like your student to bring their FCPS device home, no toggle action is needed. Confirm by pressing Save Selection.
Students whose families opt out will continue to have access to an FCPS-issued device during the school day. Please reach out to your student’s teacher to understand expectations for homework and any learning activities that may require access to technology outside of the school day.
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.
- The FCPS Family Academy is where families can learn and get support for their child’s school journey. Check out its catalog for upcoming classes, workshops, and webinars to help families learn about FCPS, parenting, early literacy, and how to partner with schools.
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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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Study Help and Support Available to Students in Schoology: A new Schoology Study and Support Hub is available for students in Schoology. This space was developed by the FCPS Educational Technology Team with input from students. It is designed to provide essential study tools and academic support resources directly to our learners. Students can log in to Schoology and read their Schoology announcements or watch this video on the support hub for more information
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Parent Information Lines Available in Eight Languages
Family Information Line Available in Nine Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
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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:
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- Everything You Need to Do in SIS ParentVUE
- Permission Forms for School Resources
- Follow Multiple Schools in the App
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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