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School Hours: 9:15 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday
School building opens for students at 9:00 AM
Office: 703-988-8900
Attendance: 703-988-8989
September 2, 2026
IN THIS ISSUE
- Back to School Night
- Positivity Project
- SEL Screener Grades 3-6
- Advanced Academic Programs Fall Newsletter
- Superintendent's Family Vision Group
- ParentVue Update
- Elementary Early Release Wednesdays - Childcare Information via Student Online Verification/Update
- Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
- FLE Parent Preview Night
- Weather and Alerts From FCPS
- Lunch Family Visitor Expectations
- Free and Reduced Price Meals - Apply Now
- PTA Board for 25-26 School Year
- Join the PTA
- PTA Fundraisers
- VRES Fall 2026 Clubs
- 18th Annual Asha Jyothi 5K
- Important Upcoming Dates
- Frequently Visited Links and Important Virginia Run Contacts
- Monthly Lunch Menu
Labor Day
Friday, September 4, and Monday, September 7, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends.
See the complete school year calendar.
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A poster of the Virginia Run Elementary School Vision and Mission Statements.
1. Back to School Night
Back to School Night will be held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Since we do have families with children in multiple grade levels, we are offering 2 sessions with a transition in between to give families time to get to the next teacher. Session times are below:
5:00-5:30 PM Full-Time AAP Information Session in the Library: We will have a Back to School Night Information Session for families who have students currently enrolled in the local full time advanced academic program grades 3-5.
Session I Grades PS, Kindergarten, 3 and 4: 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
Session II Grades 1, 2, 5 and 6*: 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM
*Grade 6 session will begin in the library at 6:30 PM
PLEASE NOTE: It is strongly recommended that students not attend back to school night, however, if it is not an option, students can come to the event as long as they remain under the supervision of their parents during the entire event.
2. Positivity Project
This week, our school is focusing on the character strength of Teamwork. Teamwork means working well with others as part of a group. It involves being loyal, reliable, and dedicated to helping your team reach its goals.
People who are strong in teamwork desire to help all group members succeed, committing time and resources to the group's shared goals. Sometimes, this means setting aside personal achievements to ensure the team does well as a whole. By doing this, they create positive feelings and help form a strong bond among group members.
Being a good teammate benefits everyone. When students work together, they feel proud of being part of something bigger than themselves.
To practice and encourage the character strength of teamwork 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.
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Mr. Gerstner visits the Eclipse at Westfield bus stop this week.
3. SEL Screener Grades 3-6
- Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) believes in supporting social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students. In FCPS, students use a tool called the SEL Screener to think about their own SEL skills and experiences at school. Virginia Run ES students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener in the Fall and Spring.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. You can learn more on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. The SEL Screener notification and opt out is part of the annual opt out packet
4. Advanced Academic Programs Fall Newsletter
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K-12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs.
Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:
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Fall identification: Students in grades 3-7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15, 2026.
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Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2-7 may be referred by December 15, 2026.
FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services.
- All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT).
- Students in Grades 3-6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
- Students in Grades 3-6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Kelly Coulter School Testing Coordinator, at kmcoulter@fcps.eduby September 30.
Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings, led by Brittany Wade our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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AAP Continuum of Services: 9/29/26 at 9:45 AM in the Cafeteria. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
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Full-Time AAP Identification: 11/10/26 at 6:00 PM in Room 225. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
For more information, please contact Brittany Wade, AART, at bwade@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.
5. Superintendent's Family Vision Group
Virginia Run Elementary School is seeking one more parent or caregiver representatives to serve on the Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent's Family Vision Group for the 2026–27 school year.
The Superintendent's Family Vision Group provides families with an opportunity to partner directly with FCPS by sharing perspectives, providing feedback, and helping strengthen the connection between schools, families, and the division. Representatives serve as consistent voices for our Virginia Run community and participate in meetings throughout the school year.
We encourage all interested parents and caregivers to consider this opportunity. You do not need to be a PTA member or have previously served in a leadership role to apply.
Representatives are expected to:
- Attend Family Vision Group meetings throughout the school year.
- Serve as one of Virginia Run's designated representatives.
- Share ideas and feedback that help strengthen family engagement across FCPS.
If you are interested in being considered as one of Virginia Run Elementary School's representatives, please email Principal Dave Gerstner at drgerstner@fcps.edu.
6. ParentVue Update
New ParentVUE Mobile App
A new ParentVUE mobile app has become available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.
Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.
Thank you FCPS Facilities team for our outdoor track renovation!
7. Elementary Early Release Wednesdays - Childcare Information via Student Online Verification/Update
The 2026–27 Online Verification/Update (OVU) packet will be available in ParentVUE starting July 24.
The OVU packet includes a section where parents can request childcare for the four elementary Early Release Wednesdays.
We encourage all families to sign up for a ParentVUE account. This will give you direct access to essential student information and allow you to submit your childcare requests.
The Virginia Run Early Release Wednesday days are as follows:
- October 21
- December 2
- February 10
- May 5
8. Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms are available in Parent Digital Consent. Paper opt-out forms are available from your child’s school. Students receiving special education services and accessing modified curriculum will receive a printed opt-out form for modified FLE lessons.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology. Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by email to fle@fcps.edu.
9. FLE Parent Preview Night
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 9th from 4:30-5:30 at Virginia Run in the library. This will take place before Back to School Night. All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please complete the opt-out form available in Parent Digital Consent (PDC) at https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/technology/digital-resources/consent/directions. If you are unable to access PDC, a paper opt-out form may be requested from the main office.
Thank you FCPS Facilities team for our new playground mulch!
10. Weather and Alerts From FCPS
Receive weather closings and other important updates from FCPS by text and email.
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Log in to SIS ParentVUE.
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Click “My Account”at the top of the page.
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Review your contact information.
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Click “Update Account” to make edits.
For more information, go to https://www.fcps.edu/weather.
11. Lunch Family Visitor Expectations
We love welcoming families to join their children for lunch! To help ensure that lunchtime remains a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience for all students, we are introducing a new procedure for family lunch visitors.
Beginning this school year, families visiting for lunch will be asked to review our Lunch Family Visitor Expectations when signing in and follow these expectations throughout their visit. Having shared expectations helps us protect student safety and privacy, support our cafeteria routines, and create a welcoming environment for everyone.
When visiting for lunch, we ask families to:
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Follow cafeteria expectations and directions provided by school staff.
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Remain with your child for the duration of your visit.
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Do not share outside food or drinks with other students. Outside food is discouraged but, if brought, may only be consumed by your child. This helps protect students from known or unknown food allergies.
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Model our school-wide behavior expectations by using appropriate language and demonstrating respectful behavior.
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Follow visitor safety procedures by signing in at the front office, wearing your visitor badge, and signing out before leaving.
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Allow your child to return to class independently at the end of lunch. Students should follow their normal cafeteria dismissal procedures.
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Refrain from taking photos or videos that include other students in order to respect student privacy.
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Keep lunchtime focused on enjoying time with your child. Conversations about academic progress, concerns, or other school matters should be scheduled with your child's teacher or appropriate staff member outside of lunchtime.
We value having our families as part of our school community and appreciate your partnership in following these expectations consistently. Together, we can make lunchtime a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable experience for all of our Vikings!
12. Free and Reduced Price Meals - Apply Now
Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
Students "tap on" the bus using their new student ID cards.
13. PTA Board for 26-27 School Year
President - Matthew Reklau - virginiarunpta@gmail.com
Secretary - Logan Young - vressecretary@gmail.com
Treasurer - Aimee Gibson - treasurer.virginiarunpta@gmail.com
VP Education - Melissa Wells - vresvpeducation@gmail.com
VP Fundraising - Amanda Prindle - vresvpfundraising@yahoo.com
VP Social - Theresa Nam - vresvpsocial@gmail.com
14. Join the PTA
Join the Virginia Run Elementary School PTA today to help support our students, teachers, and school programs. Your membership dues fund essential educational enrichment, teacher appreciation, and fun student activities throughout the year. Joining doesn't require any volunteer time—your financial support makes all the difference.
Membership Options:
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Family Membership (two members): $30.00
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Single Membership (one member): $20.00
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Tax-Deductible Donation: Any amount you would like to give
Two Ways to Join:
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Online: Scan the QR code on the paper flyer or visit vrespta.ptboard.com to sign up instantly.
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Paper Form: Fill out the membership form and send it back to your child's teacher with your cash or check payment.
Incentives & Contests:
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Raffle Entry: Join by September 11 to be automatically entered into a special raffle!
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Popsicle Party: The classroom with the highest percentage of PTA memberships will win a Popsicle Party for the whole class!
PTA Membership Form 26-27
15. PTA Fundraisers
"No Fuss" Fundraiser
Would you like to support our school but not have to fuss with any fundraising events this year, guilt-free? The VRES PTA has you covered with this year’s No Fuss Fundraiser! Every bit helps, and no donation is too small (or too large!).
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Where to Donate: Visit vrespta.ptboard.com or simply scan the QR code on the flyer to give online.
PTA No Fuss Fundraiser 26-27
PTA Baked Goods Donation Request – Back to School Night
The VRES PTA is requesting donations of baked goods to sell as a fundraiser before and during Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026. Homemade or store‑bought items are welcome.
Please review the available sign‑up slots and choose one that works for you. Bring your individually wrapped baked good(s) to the VRES office on Wednesday, September 9th, so the PTA has everything ready for set‑up that evening.
To help families with allergy concerns, please include a small card that lists:
- What the item is
- Any potential allergens (nuts, dairy, gluten, etc.)
Thank you so much for contributing and supporting the PTA!
https://tinyurl.com/varunespta
Show Your Virginia Run Viking Pride!
You can now order your official Virginia Run Elementary spirit wear online!
It’s a fantastic way to show your school spirit while directly supporting our students—a portion of every single purchase goes straight to the VRES PTA to help fund programs for our school.
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Special Perk: Order before September 11 to get free shipping directly to the school!
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How to Shop: Go to www.campussurvivalkits.com/virginiarun or scan the QR code on the flyer to browse the full store.
www.campussurvivalkits.com/virginiarun
16. VRES Fall 2026 Clubs
Fall club registration is here! Check out the after-school and before-school activities available for our students this season:
Weekly Club Schedule
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Monday: LEGO , Pickleball (Grades 4–6) Art & Craft (Grades K–3), Crochet (Grades 4–6), and Guitar (Grades 1–3)
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Tuesday: Acting Out! Jr. (Grades K–2), Art & Craft (Grades K–3), Crochet (Grades 4–6), and Guitar (Grades 1–3)
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Wednesday: Piano (Grades 4–6) and Soccer (Grades K–3)
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Thursday: Chess (before school), STEM Stars (before school), and Acting Out! (Grades 3–6)
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Friday: 3D Printing (Grades 1–6), Tiny Chefs, and Cursive Crusaders (before school, Grades 3–6)
To view full details or sign up, scan the QR code on the flyer! If you have any questions about the clubs or need information regarding financial aid, please reach out to our PTA VP of Education at VRESVPEDUCATION@GMAIL.COM.
VRES Fall 2026 Clubs
17. 18th Annual Asha Jyothi 5K
Join our Virginia Run Staff and Community for the 18th Annual Asha Jyothi 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run.
Where: Fairfax Corner Race Date: Sunday Sept 20th, 2026
Asha-Jyothi (meaning Ray of Hope) is a volunteer based non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the underprivileged by providing access to Education and Healthcare. Their mission is guided by Asha-Jyothi’s core values of strength, commitment, collaboration and integrity.
100% of your registration fee is donated back to Virginia Run. Coupon Code: AJ4Schools Registration includes AJ T-Shirt, Kids' Medals, Food and Bollywood Music.
Bonus Incentives- Additional donations to CR
25 - 49 Registrations = additional $500
50 - 99 Registrations = additional $1,000
100 - 249 Registrations = additional $2,000
250+ Registrations = additional $10,000
All proceeds raised will go towards student field trips, and family and community engagements and to support Virginia Run student needs.
Register before September 8th
Coupon code: AJ4Schools Get a $10 discount applied
Register here - Asha Jyothi - 5K Registration
Asha Jyothi - Route Map
VA School Counts - See where Cub Run Ranks in Registrations!
Virginia Run's Administration team: Dave Gerstner, Principal, Jessica Green, Assistant Principal, and Lauren Arreaza, Assistant Principal.
18. Important Upcoming Dates
9/4-9/7: No School
9/9: Back to School Night
9/10: SweetFrog Spirit Night, Centreville Location
9/24: Red Robin Spirit Night, Chantilly Location
9/25: Victory Martial Arts Parents Night Out
10/6: PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM, Library, also available virtually
10/7: Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day
10/16: Trunk or Treat/Fall Fest, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
10/16: Book Fair Family Night, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
10/21: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
10/29: Red Robin Spirit Night, Chantilly Location
11/10: PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM, Library, also available virtually
11/12: Boosterthon Kickoff During School
11/13: Bingo Night, Cafeteria
11/20: Boosterthon Fun Run During School
12/1: PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM, Library, also available virtually
12/2: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
12/17: Red Robin Spirit Night, Chantilly Location
1/22: Free Family Movie Night, 6:00 - 9:00 PM, Cafeteria
2/10: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
4/2: VRES/Cub Run Volleyball Game, 6:30 PM, Westfield HS Gym
4/30: Viking Dash Fundraiser and Family Fun Run
5/4: PTA Meeting and PTA Board Elections
5/5: Early Release Wednesday-Virginia Run will release students at 1:00 PM
19. Frequently Visited Links and Important Virginia Run Contacts
20. Monthly Lunch Menu
Please use this link to view the Virginia Run ES Lunch Menu.
- Explore School Meals in the New Menu Platform
Experience an easier way to view your child’s school menus using MealViewer:
- View what is being served each day.
- View the nutritional information for each meal.
- See if any specific allergens are being served.
- Get notified when your student’s favorite meal is being served.
Printable menus are always available on the Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
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